A former Hawkeye football player originally accused of second- and third-degree sexual abuse has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, according to court documents.
Abe Satterfield, 21, was set to go to trial on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting a female Hawkeye athlete in Hillcrest in October 2007. Instead, Satterfield has pleaded guilty to assault with intent to inflict serious injury, an aggravated misdemeanor and will be sentenced on July 23.
With the plea, Satterfield faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison and will be required to pay a fine between $625 and $6,250. Satterfield may be subjected to a five year no-contact order with the accuser.
In addition, Satterfield has agreed to testify against his former teammate Cedric Everson, 20, who was accused of second-degree sexual abuse in connection with the same incident. Everson’s trial is set for July 12.
In entering his guilty plea, Satterfield admitted he “acted with the intent to cause serious mental anguish” to the victim and “my actions were insulting or offensive.”
Satterfield signed the admission in Pennsylvania, where he plays football for Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Assistant Johnson County Attorney Anne Lahey said the agreement was simply a product of “negotiations.”
“We obviously thought it was a consideration,” Lahey said of the part of the agreement that requires Satterfield to testify against Everson. “We checked with the victim, and she was OK with it.”
Satterfield’s defense attorney, Alfredo Parrish of Des Moines, said these particular cases involve a lot of investigation during which facts need to be “worked out” in order to get the case resolved.
”It’s been a very difficult process for [Satterfield] and his family,” Parrish added. “He wishes he could have stayed at Iowa and with Coach Ferentz.” Satterfield was dismissed from the Hawkeye football team in 2007.
The Daily Iowan will continue coverage for this developing story on Monday.
