After a three-month investigation, Patrick Kane will not face criminal charges.
“I have repeatedly said that I did nothing wrong,” Kane said in a statement released by the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday afternoon.
“I have respected the legal process and I am glad that this matter has now been closed and I will have nothing further to say going forward.”
Kane’s accuser decided to no longer cooperate in the investigation.
Thursday morning Erie County district attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced the following, noting that the case is “rife with reasonable doubt”:
The Town of Hamburg Police Department and the Office of the Erie County District Attorney have conducted an exhaustive investigation over the course of the past three months regarding allegations made by a 21 year-old woman that 26 year-old
Patrick Kane raped her on his bed. The investigative findings include the following:
– There are significant material inconsistencies between the complainant’s accounts and those of other witnesses.
– The DNA results lend no corroboration whatsoever to the complainant’s claim of penetration, a required element of proof for a rape charge.
– The physical evidence and the forensic evidence, when viewed in tandem, tend to contradict the complainant’s claim that she was raped on Kane’s bed.
– Although Kane has exercised his constitutional right to remain silent (which prohibits questioning by law enforcement), he has made no known incriminating statements to any civilian, nor has he engaged in any conduct consistent with a consciousness of guilt.
Additionally, the complainant, after consultation with her attorney, has decided that she does not wish to go forward with a criminal prosecution. She has recently signed what is commonly referred to as a “Non-Prosecution Affidavit” that states, in relevant part: “That after fully discussing all the circumstances with my attorney, I have decided I do not wish to criminally prosecute the charges which stem out of this investigation. I do so of my own free will and without any promises or compensation.”
A complainant’s willingness or reluctance to go forward is an important factor in determining whether a criminal prosecution, brought by this office on behalf of the People of the State of New York, will go forward. It is not, however, decisive. In other words, a complainant’s allegations, standing alone, do not trigger a criminal prosecution; nor does a complainant’s wish to withdraw charges, standing alone, determine whether a criminal case will be terminated.
Our prosecution standard is proof-based and has been stated on many occasions: consistent with the discretion afforded to the District Attorney under the law, we prosecute when the credible evidence, likely admissible in court, proves a crime was committed and proves the accused committed it.
The totality of the credible evidence — the proof — does not sufficiently substantiate the complainant’s allegation that she was raped by Patrick Kane and this so-called “case” is rife with reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the Office of the Erie County District Attorney will not present this matter to an Erie County Grand Jury.
A confidential correspondence has been sent to the Town Hamburg Police Chief (with copies forwarded to legal counsel for the complainant and Mr. Kane), setting forth in greater detail the investigative findings and the reasons for the decision not to criminally prosecute this matter.
The District Attorney will not be holding a press conference.
Kane had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his waterfront mansion outside of Buffalo on Aug. 2. He was not charged.
In September, Kane said he did nothing wrong and expected to be absolved. He has since declined comment on the investigation while playing for Chicago this season.
“In light of the statement issued today by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, as an internal League matter, we intend to promptly review the information that may now be available to us,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. “We will have no further comment until we have completed that review.”
Kane’s attorney, Paul Cambria, told The Associated Press he was not surprised by Thursday’s announcement and agreed the case is rife with doubt.
“The very difficult part of this is when you are basically an international sports star, and as a result, a likely target,” Cambria told AP Thursday. “And you have to go through three months of reading things in the media that you know are not true, and they’re hurtful things and accusatory things. That’s a very difficult burden to bear.”
On the ice, Kane has a point streak of eight games and leads Chicago with eight goals and 10 assists.
“We respect the announcement today by the Erie County (N.Y.) District Attorney regarding Patrick Kane,” the Blackhawks released in a statement.
“The Chicago Blackhawks organization has taken this matter very seriously, and has tried to navigate a very sensitive situation while continually respecting the legal proceedings. At this time we will have no further comment.”
(with files from AP)
