Everson to serve seven days in jail for assault at Iowa dorm

Former University of Iowa football player Cedric Everson was sentenced Friday to seven days in jail for assault stemming from a 2007 sex abuse case.

"You should be ashamed of your conduct that resulted in the conviction of an assault," Judge Paul Miller said during the sentencing hearing this morning in Johnson County District Court. "You came here to Iowa City as a football player and were looked up to by people from the state of Iowa. I believe a jail term is warranted, due to the nature of the assault."

Everson, 21, was found guilty Jan. 20 of assault, the lowest level of offense he faced during a seven-day trial in Johnson County. He was accused of sexually assaulting a female UI swimmer while she was passed out in a dorm room on Oct. 14, 2007.

Everson will have to turn himself in to the Johnson County Jail on July 15, after he completes a course at a Detroit community college, Miller said. The judge ordered Everson to pay $2,084 in restitution jointly with Abe Satterfield, Everson's teammate, who was also convicted of assaulting the swimmer. The restitution would pay primarily for the costs associated with the victim's sexual assault examination.

Everson must avoid contact with the woman for five years.

Everson spoke briefly to Miller, but most of what he said was too quiet for anyone in the audience to hear.

"It feels like I'm a changed person," Everson said.

Everson's attorney, Leon Spies, said Everson has offers to play football at two colleges, but declined to name either one. "You'll find out soon," he said as he left the courthouse with Everson.

The woman Everson assaulted was not present at sentencing and chose not to make an impact statement. Prosecutor Anne Lahey asked Miller to sentence Everson to the maximum 30 days allowed by law. Spies asked for no jail time, or a suspended jail sentence, and wanted Miller to waive the restitution because of Everson's financial position.

Prosecutors originally charged Everson with second-degree sex abuse and Satterfield with second- and third-degree sex abuse, alleging they collaborated to assault the woman. Second-degree sex abuse carries up to 25 years in prison and the third-degree charge carries up to 10 years. A conviction on either charge would have required registry as a sex offender.

Satterfield, 22,

took a plea deal in April that allowed him to plead guilty to assault with intent to commit serious injury if he testified against Everson. His testimony, expected to help the state, did not convince Judge Paul Miller that the second-degree charge against Everson was warranted. Miller downgraded the charges before jury deliberations in January.