Editor’s Note: On August 28, 2012, the Northern Star redacted the name of a student originally named in this story. The student and various legal entities provided evidence to the Northern Star that the student had the charges discussed in this article expunged from his record, as he was not convicted of them. The Northern Star does not typically remove the names of those charged with crimes and will not do so upon request except in special circumstances, as in this case. The student’s name was redacted because he was found not guilty and his record was expunged. As the Northern Star strives for transparency in all cases, the story was left completely unaltered except to replace the source’s name with [Redacted]. The archived print edition remains unaltered.

Two NIU students have been charged with criminal sexual abuse for separate incidents involving the same 15-year-old girl.

[Redacted], 19, and Brandon Alexander, 20, both of Sycamore were arrested by police Wednesday after they voluntarily turned themselves in at the Sycamore police station.

“They were charged, basically, because of the age difference,” said Detective Rod Swartzendruber of Sycamore police. “The alleged incidents occurred during the summer, and the mother reported it in the beginning of October.” He said neither man has been accused of physically forcing the girl to do anything. [Redacted], a sophomore NIU wrestler in the 197-pound weight class, is suspended from the team indefinitely.

“He will not put on that uniform for some time,” Athletic Director Cary Groth said. “Any time an athlete is charged with anything, they’re immediately suspended.”

[Redacted] will miss at least the first three meets of the season, which begins Nov. 8. Groth said she will examine the issue after his first court date, Dec. 2. If [Redacted] is found guilty, Groth said, he will be dismissed from the wrestling team.

“This one, I can honestly say, is bogus,” Ben Heizer, senior wrestling captain, said. “Some of them I can see where there is a question; but this is messed up. The girl’s mother is trying to create a situation where there isn’t one.

“Dustin’s a really nice kid; he’s got his head on straight. He has a girlfriend he’s had for the last two years that he loves,” Heizer said.

Heizer said he did not want to say what the allegations against the two men involved. [Redacted] declined to comment; Alexander was unavailable for comment.

Alexander, a pre-elementary education major, and [Redacted], a business administration major, also could face sanctions from the university.