National Football League

The Latest: Plea deal leaves 1 defendant in Sharper case

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Latest on the federal drug and sexual assault case against two co-defendants of former NFL star Darren Sharper (all times local):

11 a.m.

A co-defendant in the drug and sexual assault case that brought down former NFL star Darren Sharper has reached a plea deal.

Former restaurant worker Erik Nunez has agreed to enter a guilty plea in the case. That leaves one more defendant, former St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Licciardi (lih-CHAR'-dee), to face trial. Jury selection began Monday shortly after the plea bargain with Nunez was announced in federal court.

Details of the agreement have not yet been posted in public records, and the judge in the case could still reject it.

Opening arguments in Licciardi's trial are set for Friday. Sharper has pleaded guilty or no-contest to charges arising from allegations that he drugged and raped women in Arizona, Nevada, California and Louisiana.

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8 a.m.

Jury selection is set to begin in New Orleans for two people authorities say are tied to the drug and sexual assault case that brought down former NFL star Darren Sharper.

Brandon Licciardi (lih-CHAR'-dee) and Erik Nunez face federal charges related to allegations that they, and Sharper, gave drugs to women with the intent to rape them. Licciardi and Nunez have pleaded not guilty.

Selection of jurors was scheduled to start Monday. After a jury is chosen, the trial will recess until opening arguments planned Friday.

Sharper pleaded guilty or no-contest to allegations in Arizona, Nevada, California and Louisiana. He is expected to testify at the trial. His cooperation with prosecutors could be a factor at his August sentencing hearing. He faces a possible 15-20 years in prison.