The City of DeKalb charged Amnesia Night Club with allowing 15 underage people to enter the bar for an NIU football recruit party in December.

The establishment, 1000 E. Lincoln Highway, is charged with violating sections 38.21, 38.23 and 38.30 of the DeKalb Municipal Code.

One charge is for allowing 15 minors to enter on Dec. 4. Several minors allegedly provided fraudulent and false identification, and at least two other minors came in without showing any identification, according to the city report.

City Attorney Margo Ely said police learned of the incident after a father called and said he had just picked up his intoxicated son at the bar.

Six police officers then were dispatched to the establishment and conducted ID checks.

“We never had a licensee have 15 underagers in a bar,” Ely said.

Previously, Amnesia manager James Sanfilippo had agreed to hold a party for the NIU football team for the next night, Dec. 5, knowing underage people would attend. He quoted a price of $1,800 for 10 kegs of beer and a DJ, the city report said.

Sanfilippo allegedly told the party organizer that every person needed to have identification stating he or she was at least 21 years old. The city also charges that Sanfilippo told the party organizer to have the people over the age of 21 to pass their IDs out to the minors so that they could also enter.

Party attendees paid $10 at the door and were allowed to enter the bar and drink an unlimited amount of draft beer, police said. Charging a fixed amount for an unlimited amount of beer also violates a city liquor ordinance.

The charges were delayed two months by the holidays and students not being in town, DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said.

“We had to conduct interviews and it was more difficult with people being on vacation,” Feithen said.

Dan Sheldon, junior wide receiver on the NIU football team, was charged with unlawful issuance of an identification card at Amnesia. Feithen said he was unaware of any individual charges.

Both Ely and Feithen said this is the first time these types of charges have been filed against any establishment.

Mayor Greg Sparrow, who also acts as the city liquor commissioner, will hold a hearing for Amnesia at 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St.

Ely said the establishment faces fines and/or suspension/revocation of their Class A license.

Sanfilippo was unavailable for comment at press time.