Sens assistant GM to appear in court
Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee will appear in Buffalo City Court on Monday for a pre-trial conference on a violation charge of harassment in the second degree.
Lee was arrested Thursday and spent one night in jail after an alleged incident involving a 19-yearold shuttle driver from the Westin Hotel in Buffalo on Wednesday night.
A father of three who just completed his 24th season with the Senators, Lee was released following an arraignment hearing Friday, but had his passport seized. He was ordered to remain in the U.S. and to stay away from the Westin.
Erie County district attorney John Flynn told reporters in a news conference following the arraignment that Lee allegedly put his hands on a 19-year-old male employee’s shoulders and made “lewd” remarks. The young man then made a complaint to hotel security and police were called to investigate before the charge was laid. Lee has entered a not guilty plea.
If found guilty, Lee could face a fine of up to $250 and a jail sentence of up to 15 days.
Flynn stated Friday he wouldn’t seek jail time because he felt spending Thursday night in jail would be enough of a wake-up call for Lee and he felt the matter could be resolved Monday. If found guilty, Lee would still be free to do business in the United States.
Lee was attending the National Hockey League pre-draft scouting combine at the KeyBank Center and had been scheduled to leave Saturday. He did spend the weekend in Buffalo, but didn’t attend draft prospect fitness testing at the nearby KeyBank Rink on Saturday.
Flynn indicated the matter could be resolved Monday. Lee didn’t have legal representation when he appeared in front of a judge on Friday, but it’s believed he has since hired legal counsel.