Police in Michigan have refrained from providing details on the situation involving former NHL player Ryan Kesler, who is facing two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Court documents indicate that Kesler, 41, appeared in Bloomfield Hills District Court via Zoom and pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges linked to incidents on Jan. 1 in Orchard Lake, Michigan, with the report being filed the next day.
A bond of $50,000 US, requiring a 10% deposit, was established. Following his booking and bond posting, the Orchard Lake Police Department issued a press statement on Tuesday, sharing Kesler’s booking photo but offering no additional information.
Despite requests made under the Freedom of Information Act for the incident report, the department declined, citing an ongoing investigation and concerns about jeopardizing it through the release of records.
In response to the charges, Kesler’s attorney, Robert J. Morad, declared Kesler’s complete innocence and firm denial of the accusations. Morad emphasized their readiness to vigorously contest the charges in court, urging privacy and respect for the legal process.
Kesler is scheduled to participate in a probable-cause conference on Nov. 6 and a preliminary examination on Nov. 13. Notably, he has recently served as a coach for the Little Caesars AAA program in Detroit, a position from which he has been removed pending resolution of the legal proceedings.
Hailing from Livonia, Michigan, Kesler had a prominent hockey career, notably playing for the Vancouver Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks before retiring in 2019. He represented the United States in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics and received the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2011 for his defensive prowess in the NHL.