Tampering charges dropped against UI sex assault suspect's parents

IOWA CITY - The Johnson County Attorney's Office has dropped witness tampering charges filed against the parents of a 19-year-old Iowa City man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her apartment last month.

Peng Tang's father, Xuefan Tang, 57, and his mother, Li Qiao, 49, were in the process of being released from the Johnson County Jail at 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to a jail official, who also confirmed the charges have been dropped.

The couple was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of witness tampering charges after police said they flew to town shortly after their son's arrest on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping and tried to find the victim in hopes of persuading her to change her story. The couple was being held in lieu of $100,000 cash-only bonds.

Johnson County District Attorney Janet Lyness did not immediately return a call from The Gazette on Wednesday, but she told the television station KWWL that, although there is probable cause to charge the couple with the crime, she believes cultural differences contributed to their behavior.

She told the news outlet that Tang's parents believed they were doing what was right to help their son and didn't understand the criminal repercussions.

Peng Tang is still being held in the Johnson County Jail in lieu of $750,000. He is accused of responding to an advertisement to sublet an apartment on March 29 and then sexually assaulting the woman who was showing the unit. Tang also is accused of trapping the woman in her bedroom and threatening her with a knife, and taking pictures during the assault and threatening to post them online if the woman contacted police, according to a criminal complaint.

Tang also faces a charge of solicitation to commit an aggravated misdemeanor after police said he sent a letter from jail asking a friend to get his accuser to change his story.

His kidnapping case is schedule to go to trial June 5.