NIU wrestler Bill Lowney was arraigned on criminal sexual assault charges on Monday morning.

Lowney appeared at the DeKalb County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He is accused of sexually assaulting a female NIU student on Nov. 8 at an off-campus apartment complex.

He was indicted by a grand jury in late February and turned himself in to Kane County officials on March 4.

The NIU athletic department learned of Lowney’s arrest too late to stop him from traveling with the team to the MAC championship in Mt. Pleasant, Mich; but, it did prevent Lowney from competing in the tournament, in which he was the MAC champion last year.

Associate Athletics Director Robert Collins, who is overseeing this case, said Monday that Lowney still is on scholarship despite the charges and has not had any other aid reduced.

“We need to wait for due process to take its course,” Collins said.

Lowney will be back in court at 9 a.m. on May 12.

Sports Editor Frank Rusnak contributed to this story.