Wheaton College players plead not guilty

WHEATON, Ill. (AP) -- Four of five Wheaton College football players charged with battery in the hazing of a teammate at the suburban Chicago school have pleaded not guilty.

They appeared at a Monday arraignment in DuPage County. The arraignment for the fifth player is Nov. 13.

All five are accused of duct-taping their teammate, then dumping him half-naked in a park in March 2016. Each was charged last month with aggravated battery, mob action and unlawful restraint. The most serious charge carries a maximum five-year prison term.

Their victim, who has since left the school, also told police his attackers attempted to sodomize him with an object. One attorney asked the judge to lift a gag order so the now-suspended players can publicly deny those allegations. The court will consider the request at an Oct. 31 hearing.