Rape Trial of Bradley Postponed

The trial of former Moorpark College running back Freddie Bradley, who has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl, has been postponed until Oct. 15.

The trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday.

Bradley, who played for Arkansas last season, was arrested April 23 along with Razorback teammate Derrick Martin after the girl told police the two men had raped her in Martin’s room in the school’s athletic dormitory.

Both players left school and were dismissed from the football team by Coach Jack Crowe.

Bradley pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Washington County Superior Court in Fayetteville, Ark., on May 1 and was released on $25,000 bond.

Bradley’s attorney, John Everett, said in May the act involving Bradley and the girl was consensual, but prosecutor Andrew Ziser said there is no difference under Arkansas law.

“He is charged with a count of rape of a girl under the age of 14,” he said. “Under that statute, the law doesn’t make any distinction between consensual and non-consensual.”

A hearing scheduled for Friday in Lancaster Superior Court involving the Southern Section and Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch has been postponed until Aug. 21.

Southern Section officials will seek to remove an injunction that has prevented them from investigating the Canyon football program until a suit filed by Welch against the section, Canyon and the William S. Hart Union High School District comes to trial.

The Southern Section, which accused Welch of conducting an illegal practice last year, says it has uncovered new evidence of violations, including a videotape that the section claims shows Canyon coaches conducting an illegal off-season practice.

The section also claims Welch deliberately used an injured player during a game last season.

Welch, Canyon’s coach for 10 years, denies the allegations.

An 818 area code all-star baseball team, led by Jeff Suppan of Crespi High, will open play in the Area Code tournament today at San Jose Municipal Stadium against the 808 (Hawaii) team.

Suppan, The Times’ Valley pitcher of the year, is one of four All-Valley selections on the 818 roster. The others are catcher Stacy Kleiner of Taft, shortstop Dan Cey of El Camino Real and outfielder Brian Powers of Chaminade.

Sixteen of the 21 players on the 818 team are from the San Fernando Valley. The team will be guided by American Legion coaches Don Hornback of Woodland Hills West and Jody Breeden of Van Nuys-Notre Dame.

The 10-team tournament will run through Sunday.

San Fernando High baseball Coach Steve Marden said he has declined an offer to coach the baseball team at Victor Valley College, located north of San Bernardino in Victorville.

Many of the country’s top amateur triathletes will compete Sunday at Ventura State Beach.

Information: 805-644-9712.