Former Ram Tony Zendejas arrested on rape charges

A former Los Angeles Rams football player was arrested this morning on suspicion of drugging and raping a female patron at his popular San Dimas sports bar, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office .

Antonio "Tony" Zendejas, 48, faces one felony count each of rape by use of drugs, rape of an unconscious person, sodomy by anesthesia or controlled substance and sodomy of an unconscious victim, according to the felony complaint.

Zendejas denied the charges through his attorney this morning, and is expected to make a statement later today.

"The allegations are completely false and he plans to not only defend the matter vigorously, but also seek relief" from what he considers "malicious prosecution," said Timothy Younger, a Rancho Cucamonga-based lawyer who has represented Zendejas for about 15 years.

The arrest stems from an incident Jan. 26 at Zendejas' San Dimas restaurant and bar, Zendejas Mexican Restaurant, on West Arrow Highway.

According to the complaint, Zendejas gave a female patron a drink which made her groggy. After the woman awoke in a nearby motel room, she contacted authorities to allege that she had been raped, according to the complaint. L.A. County sheriff's detectives then launched an investigation.

Zendejas, who retired in 1995 after playing for 10 seasons as a kicker with the Rams, Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers, was arrested without incident this morning at his Yorba Linda home by Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office.

He is scheduled to appear Friday in Superior Court in Pomona and is being held on $260,000 bail.

If convicted, Zendejas faces up to 15 years in state prison.

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com