Report: Rams' strength coach charged with sexual battery

Los Angeles Rams strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath reportedly entered a not guilty plea Friday to charges of misdemeanor sexual battery in Ventura County, Calif. KNX 1070 Newsradio reported that Rath's attorney, Vicki Podberesky, entered the plea on his behalf and said her client would go to trial to fight the charges if necessary.

The alleged incident took place in June, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. Rath was not arrested until Jan. 15. Deputy District Attorney Erik Nasarenko asked the sheriff's department to conduct an additional investigation before deciding to charge Rath with three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery, according to KNX 1070.

The Rams issued a statement: "We are aware of the charges. We take allegations very seriously. Once the charges were filed, we decided Ted would take a leave of absence from the team as the matter works its way through the justice system." Podberesky issued the following statement on behalf of Rath:

"Mr. Rath takes these allegations very seriously. Ted is a man who has led a law abiding life. He is a husband, a father and a dedicated family man. He has the utmost respect for women and would never intentionally act in a manner that was demeaning or otherwise inappropriate. We intend to defend this matter to the fullest extent possible in a court of law, and we believe that after there has been a full vetting of the facts of this case Mr. Rath will be shown to be not guilty of these charges." Rath is perhaps best known as the Rams' "get-back" coach because he helps to keep head coach Sean McVay out of harm's way on the sidelines.

When Rath was not with the team during the playoffs, including Super Bowl LIII, the Rams told NFL.com he was recovering from a medical procedure. --Field Level Media