Michigan police have not released details regarding the case involving former NHL player Ryan Kesler, who faces two charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Court documents reveal that Kesler, 41, appeared in court via Zoom and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanour charges related to incidents on January 1 in Orchard Lake, Michigan. He was granted bond set at $50,000 US with a 10 per cent deposit.
A press release from the Orchard Lake Police Department confirmed that Kesler was booked and released on bond, sharing his booking photo but refraining from providing further information. The department declined a request for the incident report, citing an ongoing investigation and concerns about compromising the case.
Kesler’s lawyer, Robert J. Morad, issued a statement asserting Kesler’s innocence and denial of the allegations, emphasizing their readiness to contest the charges in court. Morad urged the public to respect Kesler’s privacy and trust the legal process to unfold, highlighting Kesler’s presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
Scheduled court proceedings require Kesler’s attendance at a probable-cause conference on November 6 and a preliminary examination on November 13. Notably, Kesler had been involved as a youth hockey coach with the Little Caesars AAA program in Detroit, a position from which he has been removed following the allegations.
Born in Livonia, Michigan, Kesler had a successful career with the Vancouver Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks, retiring in 2019. His accolades include representing the United States at the Olympics and winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2011 for his defensive prowess in the NHL.
