Retired NHL center Ryan Kesler has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct stemming from events on January 1. The 41-year-old pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Monday in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Kesler's attorney maintains his innocence and vows to fight the charges.
Ryan Kesler, a 41-year-old former NHL player from Livonia, Michigan, faces two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to Michigan court records. The charges were filed on October 23 over alleged events that occurred on January 1. Kesler was arraigned on Monday in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he entered a not guilty plea. Police in nearby Orchard Lake confirmed the arraignment, noting that Kesler was booked and posted a $50,000 bond, though they provided no additional details.
Kesler's attorney, Robert Morad, issued a statement denying the allegations. “Ryan emphatically denies the allegations and is completely innocent of the charges," Morad told The Athletic. "The charges are baseless and he is prepared to fight them vigorously in court. As the legal process begins, we ask for respect for his privacy and for the integrity of the judicial system. We are confident, when all the facts and circumstances are presented, that he will be fully exonerated.”
Court proceedings are set to continue, with a probable cause conference scheduled for November 4 or 6, according to varying reports, followed by a preliminary examination on November 13. The news was first reported by Katie Strang and Sean Gentille of The Athletic.
Kesler played 15 seasons in the NHL, spending 10 with the Vancouver Canucks and five with the Anaheim Ducks from 2003 to 2019, with his final season in 2018-19. He also represented the United States at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.