Ben Pettway
A Lookout Mountain, Ga., man is among five Wheaton College football players facing felony charges in connection with a 2016 hazing incident.
Benjamin Pettway, an offensive lineman who played at Baylor School, was charged along with James Cooksey, Kyler Kregel, Noah Spielman and Samuel TeBos.
The players have now been suspended from practice and games with the football team.
A freshman teammate reported that he was duct taped, then beaten and left half-naked on a baseball field.
The student, who has transferred to another college, said he suffered tears to both shoulders.
The players are under $50,000 bonds on charges of aggravated battery, mob action and unlawful restraint.
The hazing victim told the Tribune, "This has had a devastating effect on my life. What was done to me should never occur in connection with a football program or any other activity. ... I am confident that the criminal prosecution will provide a fair and just punishment to the men who attacked me."
Wheaton officials said they were "deeply troubled" by the charges, saying it seeks to provide a hazing free environment at the conservative Christian school. It says an outside investigator was hired last year to look into the allegations and "corrective actions" were taken.
The Tribune said it was advised the players had to perform 50 hours of community service and write an eight-page essay. The players are still on the team.
Wheaton officials said, "The conduct we discovered as a result of our investigation into this incident was entirely unacceptable and inconsistent with the values we share as human beings and as members of an academic community that espouses to live according to our Community Covenant. We are profoundly saddened that any member of our community could be mistreated in any way. "Wheaton remains committed to providing Christ-centered development programs and training to all our students."
The Tribune report said the student was watching the NCAA basketball tournament in a dorm room on March 19, 2016, when several teammates barged into his room, punched him and tied him with tape. He said they put a pillow case over his head, then put him in a vehicle.
The Tribune report said Middle Eastern music was played and the players made derogatory remarks about Muslims. It says they pulled down his pants and underwear and tried to insert an object into his rectum. He said he was also beaten.
At the baseball field, dirt was thrown on him and his cell phone was taken, it was stated. He said another player was dumped on the field about 10 minutes later.
The player, who underwent two surgeries, transferred to another school a short time later.