University Police arrested an NIU student Monday in connection with a criminal sexual assault case from May, but there might be more to it.

Derek D. Demas, 20, of 2210 Glen Ellyn Road Apt. 303, Bloomingdale, was arrested and charged with criminal sexual assault. The alleged incident occurred May 3 in Stevenson Towers North, and police consider it to be an acquaintance assault, or “date rape.”

Demas said this case is “weird” because he was declared not guilty by the University Judicial Board and now he has to go before the state in a court hearing. Demas will have a preliminary hearing on Feb. 11 at the DeKalb County Courthouse.

“If NIU thinks I’m not guilty, I don’t see why I’m going to court,” Demas said.

However, NIU Judicial Director Larry Bolles said he remembers all major cases, including sexual assault cases, where the suspect is declared not guilty, and doesn’t recall any criminal sexual assault case in which the suspect was declared not guilty.

Bolles cannot legally discuss individual cases, but said he does recall a criminal sexual assault case where penalties were reduced at the appeals level. The suspect still was found guilty in the case, but his expulsion was reduced, Bolles said.

Demas said he knows the criminal sexual assault was false and feels the charge was brought against him to cause him harm. Demas said he knows the 19-year-old woman who was allegedly criminally sexually assaulted. He had attempted to date her, he said.

Demas didn’t mention the name of the woman because he didn’t want to stoop to her level and embarrass her, he said.

UP Lt. Kathy Guimond said the woman was “extremely cooperative” during investigation of the case.

Demas was arrested on a warrant by the UPs in conjunction with the DeKalb County State’s Attorney. He was arrested at his DeKalb residence at 900 Greenbrier Road, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Demas, who is an NIU junior computer science major, was taken to DeKalb County Jail after he was arrested.

Demas said this incident has nothing to do with the fraternity because it occurred before he was a member of the house.

He was released from police custody Monday after he posted $1,000 bond. Because criminal sexual assault is a Class One felony, Demas faces a possible sentence of six to 30 years in jail.

UP Sgt. Ralph Taylor said the investigation took about eight months because it is harder to get to the bottom of things in this type of case.

Bolles said he should have the number of criminal sexual assaults for 1992 compiled soon. In 1991, there were five criminal sexual assaults, eight in 1990 and 11 in 1989, he said.