Ex-Charger Pleads Not Guilty to Rape

Bobby Ray Duckworth, a former wide receiver with the San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams who was being sought by police in connection with an alleged rape and beating, surrendered at his arraignment Wednesday in Vista Municipal Court, authorities said.

Duckworth, 32, of Carlsbad, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and two counts of forcible rape, said Tim Casserly, a deputy district attorney.

An arrest warrant for Duckworth was issued last week after a 28-year-old Carlsbad woman alleged she had been raped by him in his Carlsbad home on Labor Day.

Duckworth appeared in court Wednesday with his attorney and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at County Jail in Vista, Casserly said.