Kent Kafatia, the former City College security officer charged with rape, will begin his trial today.

Public Defender Karen Atkins will represent Kafatia and Deputy District Attorney Mary Barron will prosecute. The case was taken over by Barron because Joyce Dudley, the senior deputy district attorney who had previously handled the case, has a conflicting trial.

Kafatia’s attorney, Public Defender Karen Atkins, said, “I believe my client is innocent of what he’s accused of for various reasons. We’re anxious to get the trial started as quickly as possible but we also want to be thoroughly prepared.”

Kafatia was arrested Nov. 14 while on duty at City College after police located a vehicle matching one alleged victim’s description. He was originally charged as a suspect in two sexual assaults involving a 20-year-old woman and a 51-year-old woman.

Two more women later identified Kafatia as their attacker in incidents that allegdly occurred Dec. 6, 2003 and Oct. 31, 2004. The women told police they recognized Kafatia on the news.

During a Dec. 9 pre-trial hearing, Judge George Eskin dismissed two counts associated with the alleged rape of the 51-year-old woman.

“Rape of an intoxicated person is hard to prove in court,” Dudley said, explaining a possible reason for the dismissal.

Kafatia will face charges for three of the four alleged incidents and faces eight of the original 10 charges, including rape, attempted rape, sexual battery, criminal threats and false imprisonment.

Kafatia, originally from Malawi, Africa, attended City College before transferring to UCSB. He often slept at the Salvation Army until he was adopted by the “Friends of Kent” a group of Santa Barbara women who are former Peace Corps volunteers. The group not only took him into their homes, but also raised $17,000 for his education.