FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The man accused of being the Center City rapist appeared before a county court judge here yesterday to face the charges lodged against him in Philadelphia, where he is accused of sexually assaulting six women and strangling graduate student Shannon Schieber.

Former Philadelphia resident Troy Graves, 29, appeared in Larimer County Court via closed-circuit television. There, Judge Ronald L. Schultz referred the case to the next level, Colorado district court. Graves also has been charged by Colorado authorities with 27 counts of sexual assault, kidnapping and robbery in attacks on eight women dating back to last year in this college town.

Last week, detectives here and in Philadelphia matched DNA samples taken from Graves, an Air Force enlisted man, to crime scenes in both communities. Graves - who is assigned to Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., but moved here last year after getting married - remains in the Larimer County Detention Center with no bail set.

Up to now, Graves has had four court appearances; all have been procedural, and he has not been asked to enter a plea on the Colorado charges or indicate whether he will fight extradition to Philadelphia.