Ex-Iowa player pleads guilty in abuse case
DES MOINES, Iowa -- A former University of Iowa football player pleaded guilty Friday in a sex abuse case that led to new reporting practices for sexual assault cases at Iowa's public universities.
Abe Satterfield, 21, entered a written plea in Johnson County District Court to assault with intent to inflict serious injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. Sentencing is set for July 23.
Satterfield's plea was accepted by the court, according to an order signed by Judge Marsha Bergan.
A telephone call to Satterfield's attorney, Alfredo Parrish of Des Moines, was not immediately returned.
Assistant Johnson County Attorney Anne Lahey said under the plea agreement, Satterfield has requested a suspended sentence with no terms of probation.
The charge usually carries a possible prison term of up to two years.
"We've agreed to ask for no additional jail time," she said, noting he had spent two days in jail after he was charged.
The plea agreement also includes a no-contact order with the woman for five years, and Satterfield will be required to testify against former teammate Cedric Everson, who is also charged in the case, Lahey said.
Satterfield faces a minimum fine of $625 and court costs.
He and Everson were accused of assaulting a woman in a dormitory room in October 2007. Both men were charged in May 2008 with second-degree sexual abuse. Satterfield was also charged with third-degree sexual abuse. Those charges are felonies.
Lahey said Satterfield wasn't in Iowa, and referred questions about his whereabouts to his defense attorney.
She said the charge that Satterfield pleaded to was an amended charge added Friday as part of the plea agreement. The original charges will likely be dropped after sentencing, she said.
Lahey said the victim is in agreement with the plea deal.
Satterfield's trial had been set to begin Monday. Everson's trial is scheduled to start July 12.
Lahey declined to comment on Satterfield's plea agreement in relation to Everson's case.
Both men left the football team soon after the assault.
The charges against the two defensive backs led to complaints about how the university handled the matter.
In December 2008, the Iowa Board of Regents approved new reporting practices for sexual assaults at the state's three public universities to make the system more understandable and simple.
University President Sally Mason denied culpability for the response but said the university's policies were "convoluted and difficult" for victims to understand.
Mason ultimately fired two administrators over their handling of the situation -- Marcus Mills, the school's general counsel, and Phillip Jones, vice president for student services and dean of students.
"Mr. Satterfield was removed from our football team and subsequently left the university. It's now a legal matter that was handled by the courts," university spokesman Steve Pradarelli said Friday.
Jones has sued the Board of Regents, the university and Mason over the firing, claiming university officials didn't follow due process and made false statements against him. Trial in Jones' case has been set for Jan. 10 in Johnson County District Court.