Ball Player Accused of Raping Unconscious Woman, Leaving Cell and Wallet at Scene

By JOY JUEDES, City News Service:

A former Palm Springs baseball player is accused of raping an unconscious woman in Indio and leaving his cell phone and wallet at the scene, according to court papers filed Wednesday.

Trent William Pell, 21, is charged with two counts of rape, one count of assault with intent to rape and a misdemeanor count of sexual battery stemming from the alleged June 16 attack in the 81800 block of Sandy Court.

Pell, a collegiate baseball player, was released from the Palm Springs Power at the beginning of the season "for disciplinary reasons," according to team president Andrew Starke.

The Power is part of the Southern California Collegiate Baseball League, which recruits college athletes to play baseball in June and July.

According to a declaration filed in support of an arrest warrant, several witnesses walked into a room at the Sandy Court residence and saw Pell having sex with the victim "while she was passed out." The woman "drank heavily" that afternoon and didn't wake up when the witnesses entered the room, Indio police Cpl. Leonardo Perafan wrote.

Several people identified Pell as the person who allegedly raped the victim, according to the declaration. Pell left his cell phone -- which contained identifying information -- at the scene and fled to his native Michigan, Perafan alleged.

Indio police Sgt. Dan Marshall said the assault happened at a get- together of some kind, and that the victim wasn't from Indio.

According to court records, Pell posted a $25,000 bail bond Wednesday, and the warrant was quashed. It was unclear where the bond was posted; Pell's name wasn't listed in Riverside County jail records. Marshall said a warrant was issued Monday for Pell's arrest.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 17 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

In its 11-year existence, the Power has never had outside allegations of "inappropriate behavior" leveled against any players or coaches, according to Starke.

"Assuming that criminal charges have been filed ... we do realize that Mr. Pell is presumed innocent until proven guilty in the court of law and we are going to let the legal system handle this matter," he said.

Pell, who's from Eaton Rapids, is a senior infielder and outfielder for Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, according to the university's athletics website.