Iowa City Man Accused of Raping a Woman Showing Her Apartment for Rent

An Iowa City man has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a woman who had intended to show him her apartment for a potential sublet rental.

According to a police news release, the Iowa City police have arrested Peng Tang, 21, of 923 E. College Street and charged him with first-degree kidnapping, a class "A" felony punishable up to life in prison. Included in this charge is also the potential that Tang will be charged with sexual abuse, which is a less severe punishment of first-degree kidnapping.

According to the news release, on Thursday, March 29 at 8:17 p.m., Iowa City police received a report of a sexual assault that had occurred at the 1000 BLOCK of W. Benton Street. The woman told the police that she had made arrangements with a man over the phone to show him her apartment for a potential sublet agreement.

The woman told police that as she showed the man the bedroom, he closed the door behind them and locked it, grabbing her hands behind her back and attempting to bind them. The woman said she tried to speak to the man but he put a towel into her mouth, then forced her to turn her cell phone off, then sexually assaulted her.

The man allegedly told the woman that he had a knife during the episode. He also took sexually explicit photos of the woman and threatened to post them online if she called police.

Investigation of the incident, including statements from the woman, led the police to Tang, according to the news release. Tang allegedly admitted that he had committed the crime when confronted by police after having been read his Miranda rights, according to the police.

According to the release, the woman was treated and released from the with minor injuries.