OTTUMWA — Charles Peden is the only player from the Wilbur Wright College men’s basketball team facing charges in an alleged December sexual assault of an Indian Hills Community College student, but prosecutors list many of his teammates as potential witnesses.

Peden, 19, is charged with sexual abuse in the third degree. Investigators have said they believe there is the strong possibility other members of the team were involved in the assault. It is not known whether any of the students listed as possible witnesses were ever considered suspects.

The case stems from a Dec. 2, 2007 report in which an 18-year-old IHCC student said she was assaulted by members of the Wilbur Wright basketball squad. She and several other students went to the Days Inn occupied by the team, where the alleged assault occurred. Testing on DNA evidence led police to Peden.

Police said at the time they thought alcohol might be involved in the assault, possibly while the victim was passed out. Court filings seem to back that up. The Wapello County Attorney’s office claims Peden “did perform a sex act while the other person is mentally incapacitated, physically incapacitated, or physically helpless.”

The phrasing echoes the specific wording used in Iowa’s sexual assault laws.

Illinois courts sentenced Peden in July 2007 to 24 months of probation in a drug case. Peden’s probation officer told the Courier in April that he claimed the Ottumwa charges were dropped.

That is not the case. The court has ordered Peden be fingerprinted in Ottumwa by Aug. 1, and he has been ordered to deposit his bond with the Wapello County court clerk. His arraignment is scheduled for May 19, though defense attorneys in Iowa can submit a written arraignment.

Peden faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Wright basketball players on the witness list include Mark Waite, Darnell Owens, Devon Willie, Jaron Neely, Greg Willie, Mahmoud Abdelfatthah, Marvin Sain, Sasa Lalic and Dewayne Walker.

Randy Thomas is also listed as a potential witness. He served as the team’s assistant coach during the season. The Chicago Tribune has reported that the school fired an assistant coach over the team’s behavior in Ottumwa. The report did not name the coach, but Thomas’ name no longer appears on the school’s online directory of faculty and staff.

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com