Details of exactly what Ryan Kesler is accused of in Michigan lawsuit

Earlier this evening, NHL insider Katie Strang uncovered the fact that former NHLer Ryan Kesler has been charged and arraigned on two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree.

Kesler pleaded 'Not Guilty' in Michigan court earlier today, stemming from allegations on January 1st, 2025.

So...

If you're like me, you're wondering what exactly the term "criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree" means exactly, right?

Well in Michigan law criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree is the least severe of all criminal sexual conduct offenses in involving unconsented sexual touching or sex crime contact.

According to Michigan defense lawyer Nicole Blank Becker, the offense typically involves touching a person for sexual nature purposes, and the accuser/alleged victim of 4th-degree criminal sexual conduct is typically an adult, physically or mentally incapacitated, a close relative, or through abuse of relationships like teacher-student or warden-prisoner.

It's unclear if this teacher-student relationship also extends to a coach-player relationship, but it's worth reporting that Kesler has been involved in coaching minor/youth hockey since his retirement in 2019.

It's also worth reporting that this is a misdemeanor offense and that it does not include offenses where the alleged abuser engaged in penetrative sexual relations with the accuser/alleged victim.

Under the Michigan Penal Code section 750.520e, and individual may be charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct if they are accused of having sexual contact with:

• A teenager between the ages of 13 and 16, plus you are at least five years older than they are
• Another person by using physical force, violence, threats to violence, or unethical medical treatment for an examination aimed at sexual gratification
• Through concealment of surprise
• A patient or client who is not your spouse when you are a mental health professional and is within two years of you treating the victim
• A student 16 to 18 years of age when working at their school, except when the victim is your spouse
• A functional needs student aged between 16 and 26 when working at their school, except if the student was your spouse
• A resident of a foster home or a children’s facility who is at least age 16 when you are an employee of the institution

Again, it's not known the exact nature of the allegations against Kesler, but these allegations must fit within the above parameters to justify charges.

Read below for our earlier report on this story, published as events occurred.