Dan Sheldon, a junior wide receiver on the NIU football team, was arrested Dec. 5 and charged with unlawful issuance of an identification card at Amnesia, 1000 W. Lincoln Highway.

According to DeKalb police, Sheldon gave William Toy a California driver’s license, which contained false evidence of Toy’s age and identity. The license stated his birthday was May 25, 1982. Toy was arrested for entering and remaining in a tavern as a minor.

Nine other identification cards were found on Sheldon – six were driver’s licenses and the other three were different ID cards, Lt. Jim Kayes of the DeKalb Police Department said.

The fine for giving someone a fake ID can be up to $9,000 per card.

The athletes receive different degrees of punishment, depending on the offense, NIU football coach Joe Novak said.

Because the football season is over, the athletics department won’t punish Sheldon, athletic director Cary Groth said. Sheldon did, however, speak with Novak about the incident.

“It was a learning experience for Danny,” Groth said. “He will have to go through the legal issues, and that will be the punishment.”

There have been only a few athletes who have gotten into legal trouble while participating in sports, Groth said.

“We are very fortunate to recruit good athletes,” she said. “There are a few incidents when they got into trouble. We’re pretty lucky.”

Sheldon has done a good job of representing the university, Groth said.

“It was just a bad judgment call,” Groth said. “Student athletes have to be more careful.”

Sheldon was a starter for the team until he dislocated his left elbow in NIU’s fifth game of the season versus Ohio University. He is expected to return next season.

Sheldon declined to comment. A court date has not yet been set, he said.

On Dec. 4, 15 others were arrested at Amnesia for entering and remaining in a tavern as a minor.