Former Sens assistant GM to face trial in November
Former Ottawa Senators BUFFALO assistant general manager Randy Lee will face a non-jury trial Nov. 9 in Buffalo City Court after a judge on Thursday dismissed one of two harassment charges stemming from an incident during the National Hockey League Scouting Combine.
The Senators had suspended Lee, 56, in June after he was accused of repeatedly rubbing the shoulders of a 19-year-old male shuttle driver and making lewd comments while in Buffalo in May. Lee resigned in August, saying he could not fulfil his obligations to the team while his legal case was ongoing.
Judge Amy C. Martoche dismissed one of the seconddegree harassment charges against Lee on the grounds that his alleged behaviour did not meet the legal standard for assaultive conduct defined as “striking or making physical contact with a person.”
Lee will face trial on a second harassment charge that refers to an individual who “repeatedly commits acts which alarm or seriously annoy.” The additional charge was filed a week after Lee was arrested onMay31.
“The judge gave a written decision and we’ll have to review that written decision,” said Lee’s lawyer, Justin D. Ginter.
Ginter is an associate of criminal defence lawyer Paul J. Cambria, who had represented Lee at three previous court appearances. Cambria has also defended Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt and NHL players Patrick Kane and Evander Kane.
Lee, dressed in a dark blue suit, declined to comment after Thursday’s hearing.
Both harassment charges are non-criminal violations in the U.S. court system. If found guilty, Lee could face a fine and up to 15 days in jail, although the Erie County district attorney had said during a June 1 news conference that he wouldn’t seek jail time.
The alleged incident occurred at 10:30 p.m. on May 30, District Attorney John J. Flynn said. Lee had been returning to the Westin Hotel from a downtown restaurant and bar called 716. The hotel is owned by Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, while 716 is in the HarborCenter complex owned by Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula.
Lee had been with the Senators organization for 24 years before resigning as assistant general manager and GM of their American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville.