Former Vancouver Canucks star Ryan Kesler charged with 'criminal sexual conduct'
Ryan Kesler was in a Michigan courtroom on Monday.
The former Vancouver Canucks star pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanour counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to court records obtained by Sean Gentille and Katie Strang of The Athletic.
The charges reportedly relate to events that took place on Jan. 1, and Kesler is expected to appear in court again on Nov. 6.
The 41-year-old, who last played for the Canucks in 2014, denies the allegations.
“Ryan emphatically denies the allegations and is completely innocent of the charges. The charges are baseless, and he is prepared to fight them vigorously in court,” his attorney told The Athletic.
“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.”
Kesler is from Livonia, Mich., a western suburb of Detroit. He was arraigned in nearby Bloomfield Hills.
Selected by the Canucks in the first round of the 2003 NHL Draft, Kesler played 10 seasons in Vancouver before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks. Kesler played his final five NHL seasons in Southern California before injuries forced him to hang up the skates.
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