Former NFL Player Darren Sharper Pleads Not Guilty in Drug Rape Case

In addition to the Los Angeles case, Sharper is suspected of raping women in three states

Former NFL safety and sports commentator Darren Sharper pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a drugging and rape case involving two women he allegedly met at a West Hollywood nightclub.

Sharper is charged with two counts of rape by use of drugs, four counts of furnishing a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance, all felonies, prosecutors said.

In a motion filed today to increase his bail, prosecutors said Sharper met two women at a West Hollywood nightclub on Oct. 30, 2013, and invited them to another party.

On the way, Sharper allegedly told them he had to stop by his Los Angeles hotel room to pick something up and invited both women up, officials said.

While there, he allegedly gave each woman alcohol with zolpidem and morphine, prosecutors said.

The women passed out.

One of them allegedly woke up naked hours later with Sharper sexually assaulting her, officials said.

The second woman allegedly awoke and “interrupted his actions,” prosecutors said.

The two women then left the hotel.

On Jan. 14, Sharper met two separate women at the same West Hollywood nightclub and invited them to a party, prosecutors said.

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Stopping at his hotel, he allegedly invited both up to his room, offered them a shot, and each passed out.

When they woke up hours later on Jan. 15, one woman believed she’d been sexually assaulted.

Both women left his hotel and sought medical treatment.

He was arrested Jan. 17 and released on $200,000 bail.

Prosecutors want Sharper's bail to be raised to $10 million because the Miami resident is suspected of raping women in Nevada, Louisiana and Arizona.

In total, Sharper is accused of drugging 11 women in four states, and raping seven of them, officials said.

If convicted in the Los Angeles case, Sharper could face up to 30 years in prison. His lawyer believes Sharper will be "fully exonerated."

The 38-year-old played for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and the New Orelans Saints during a 14-year NFL career.

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