Disturbing details emerge in allegations against former NHL star Ryan Kesler

Yesterday 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 yesterday, stemming from allegations on January 1st, 2025.

Today, Strang reports that the records confirm that both counts allege that Kesler engaged in sexual contact with a 16-year-old child “through force or coercion and/or (had) reason to know the victim was physically helpless.”

Yikes...

Again, it's important to note that these are only allegations and that Kesler himself has "vehemently denied" the allegations.

Yesterday evening, in an attempt to understand more about these allegations I did some Internet-sleuthing and was able to find the definition of 'fourth degree criminal sexual conduct'.

Under the Michigan Penal Code section 750.520e, an 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.

Needless to say this is a shocking development.