Michigan police have refrained from commenting on the situation involving ex-NHL player Ryan Kesler, who faces two charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
According to court documents, Kesler, 41, appeared in Bloomfield Hills District Court via Zoom on Monday and pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges related to incidents on Jan. 1 in Orchard Lake, Michigan. The alleged offenses were reported to authorities the following day.
A $50,000 bond was established with a 10% deposit requirement for Kesler. Orchard Lake Police Department announced on Tuesday that Kesler had been booked and posted bond, sharing his booking photo without divulging further specifics.
Despite a Freedom of Information Act request for the incident report, the police department refused, citing an ongoing investigation that could be jeopardized by releasing the records.
Robert J. Morad, Kesler’s attorney, issued a statement asserting Kesler’s denial of the allegations, emphasizing his innocence and readiness to contest the charges in court. Morad urged privacy and faith in the legal process, citing Kesler’s presumption of innocence and expressing confidence in his eventual exoneration.
Kesler is scheduled to attend a probable-cause conference on Nov. 6 and a preliminary examination on Nov. 13. He had been serving as a youth hockey coach with the Little Caesars AAA program in Detroit, but has since been relieved of his duties, as confirmed by the association in a statement to CBC News.
Originally from Livonia, Michigan, Kesler played for the Vancouver Canucks from 2003 to 2014 before moving to the Anaheim Ducks, where he concluded his career in 2019. He notably represented the United States in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, received the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2011 for his defensive prowess in the NHL, and contributed to Vancouver’s journey to the Stanley Cup final that same year.
