NIU student charged
SYCAMORE – A Northern Illinois University student has been banned from the school’s property after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman on campus.
NIU Police Sgt. Alan Smith said a sexual assault was reported at 5:36 a.m. Sunday in Douglas Hall, a residence hall in the 1100 block of Stadium Drive North on the school’s DeKalb campus. After an investigation, Nicholas F. Hetherington, 18, was arrested Sunday by NIU Police.
Hetherington is a student at NIU, but the female is not, Smith said. The allegation against Hetherington is that he had sexual intercourse with a woman who was intoxicated and unable to give consent, Smith said. NIU has suspended Hetherington, so he cannot attend any classes there, Smith said. He is banned from all NIU property and banned from all contact with the victim, he added.
“That’s typically standard protocol in these cases,” Smith said.
Hetherington’s bond was set Monday morning at $50,000 during a court appearance at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore. He would need to post 10 percent of that, or $5,000, to be let out of jail. Family members present in the courtroom indicated they would be able to post that amount.
If released, Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert ordered that Hetherington have no contact with the complaining witness and would have to wear a GPS locating device. DeKalb County Assistant State’s Attorney Phil Montgomery asked that Hetherington also be required to surrender his passport, noting that he has visited foreign countries often.
Criminal sexual assault is a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Hetherington is next due in court Oct. 7.
