Former NIU student Todd Allgood will be tried for charges of sexual assault and kidnapping today after more than a year wait.

The trial was scheduled to begin Monday morning, but the jury had yet to be determined.

Circuit Judge Douglas R. Engel, along with the defense and prosecution, began the day by choosing from a pool of 50 jurors.

The pool was narrowed down to 12 after Engel read the witness list, with more than 25 witnesses scheduled to testify. In order to maintain a fair trial, Engel assured that no potential juror had any relationship to the witnesses.

The witness list had 14 police officers on it, seven of which are from the DeKalb Police Department.

“Each [officer] on the list is just there to tell their part of the investigation,” said DeKalb police Lt. Jim Kayes, who is one of the witnesses.

Kayes said he expects to take the stand on Wednesday.

Before the jury was selected, Allgood’s attorneys, Calvin Campbell and Christine Taylor, again requested a change of venue. Campbell said the location and publicity of the case would make it hard for Allgood to get a fair trial.

Engel denied the request.

Allgood will be tried for the April 25, 2001, alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a then-NIU student.

Kayes said Allgood’s attorneys plan to use the defense that the victim consented to Allgood’s advancements.

“We aren’t putting the victim on trial here,” Kayes said.

Allgood is charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping with a firearm and unlawful use and possession of a weapon.

The case is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore.

Engel expects the trial to take several days to complete with the amount of witnesses, but said it should be done by Friday, but may continue until Tuesday.