LOUISVILLE, Ky. --from www.wlky.com - Day 1 in the Karen Sypher federal trial and the prosecution is already laying out its case.
Sypher faces six federal charges, including trying to extort millions of dollars from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, lying to federal agents, and retaliating against a witness. If convicted she could face 26 years in prison.
Prosecutors played a series of voicemails left on Pitino's cell phone in February 2009. Prosecutors said the calls came from a longtime sexual partner of Sypher named Lester Goetzinger.
In the recordings, the caller said he has information about Pitino having raped "that girl" in a restaurant in 2003 and wanted to know how Pitino felt about that. The caller said the details of that rape would be given to the media. The caller also said he's aware that Pitino forced that girl to have an abortion in Cincinnati.
Pitino is expected to testify for the prosecution and was not in court. He denied the rape.
Sypher's attorney, Jim Earhart, said the case is about money, power and influence and what happens when you challenge it and what happens when you're raped by it.
Earhart said not only did Pitino rape Sypher on a table at Porcini's in July 2003, but also Pitino then got into Sypher's car and forced her to drive him home.
He said Sypher's biggest fear in 2003 was that no one would believe her and seven years later facing a jury of 16, eight women and eight men, that's still her fear.
Pitino is expected to testify as early as Tuesday, but will likely take the stand on Wednesday.
The trial is expected to last 2 weeks.
Sypher faces charges including:
* Two counts of threatening communications in interstate commerce with the intent to extort.
* Mailing threatening communications.
* Two counts of making a false statement in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the United States government.
* Retaliation against a witness.
If convicted, Sypher could face 26 years in prison and a fine of $1.5 million.
