NIU, UW-Madison football player twins arrested for burglary

University of Wisconsin sophomore cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu and his twin brother, Bill, a reserve strong safety at Northern Illinois University, were arrested Saturday in DeKalb, and face charges of residential burglary and criminal trespass. Bill and Jack Ikegwuonu, 20-year-olds who were standouts at Madison Memorial High School, allegedly broke into an apartment in an attempt to steal an Xbox game system, according to the DeKalb Police Department. Residential burglary is the more serious charge, a Class 1 felony in Illinois that is punishable by four to 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. &#8220Obviously, that's something that probably won't happen,” DeKalb police Lt. Jim Kayes said Thursday. Kayes indicated such a charge likely would be plea-bargained down, provided the defendants don't have a lengthy criminal history. &#8220I'm confident in their innocence,” DeKalb public defender Kenneth Johnson told The Associated Press. &#8220When all the facts come to light, I'm sure they will be found not guilty.” Bill Ikegwuonu was redshirted in 2004 - like his brother - and has not appeared in any games this season. He was suspended from the team by Northern Illinois University coach Joe Novak on Tuesday. Jack Ikegwuonu has started all 12 games this season for the Badgers and was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the coaches. He leads the UW defense with 11 pass breakups and was fifth in tackles with 38. He also has two interceptions. NIU (7-5) is scheduled to play Texas Christian University Dec. 19 in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. The Badgers (11-1) are scheduled to begin practice Saturday for the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla., against an undetermined Southeastern Conference opponent. According to the police report, the victim went back to his apartment, located off campus, around 2 a.m. and noticed the back door was open. When he looked inside, he saw two males standing in his living room and one of them was holding the victim's Xbox. The two males fled and separated. The victim followed one of them, who went into an apartment building down the street, while the victim called police. When the police arrived, they spotted Jack Ikegwuonu, who was on foot outside the apartment where his brother lives. After being identified by the victim, Jack Ikegwuonu was taken into custody. The officers knocked on the apartment of Bill Ikegwuonu but did not get any answer. After Jack Ikegwuonu was taken into custody, he apparently contacted his brother, who later turned himself in. Jack Ikegwuonu was released Monday on a $150,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 17 in Sycamore. Bill Ikegwuonu, meanwhile, posted a $50,000 bond, and his court date is scheduled for Dec. 8 in Sycamore. Johnson represented the brothers for their bond hearings, but they since have obtained private attorneys, he said. The Daily Chronicle first reported the brothers' arrest in its police briefs section on Monday but did not realize at the time that they were on the Wisconsin and NIU football teams.