Five football players from Wheaton College – Benjamin Pettway, James Cooksey, Kyler Kregel, Noah Spielman and Samuel TeBos – are being charged with multiple felonies after a hazing incident occurred at the school.
The players allegedly put a pillowcase over a victim and carried him out of his dorm room, who was then held down with duct tape. According to The Chicago Tribune, the players continually tried inserting an item into his rectum and then left him in a park on a night when temperatures were close to freezing.
The athletes are expected to turn themselves in at some point today according to USA TODAY Sports. Their bond is each set at $50,000. The charges include aggravated battery that caused great bodily harm, aggravated battery in a public space, unlawful restraint, mob action with the use of force or violence and mob action by two or more people with the intent to commit a felony or misdemeanor.
Kregel, Pettway and Spielman were allowed to play during their game against Carthage on Saturday, winning 37-14.
The school said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports, “Wheaton College aspires to provide an educational environment that is not only free of hazing, but practices our values as a Christian community.”
The victim transferred schools and has undergone two surgeries since the incident.