Former OHL player to be sentenced for sexually assaulting girl, 16, on Oct. 24

WINDSOR, Ont. — A former Ontario Hockey League player has been freed on bail until his sentencing hearing next month.

Ben Johnson was found guilty on Thursday of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in the washroom of a Windsor, Ont., bar in March 2013.

At a hearing on Friday, Johnson’s bail was increased to $27,500 from $15,000 and he was freed on condition that he leave Essex County and only return for court dates.

The sentencing hearing for Johnson, who played for the Windsor Spitfires, is set for Oct. 24.

Johnson told court he didn’t have intercourse with the girl, but Justice Kirk Munroe ruled the evidence did not support Johnson’s testimony, calling it “unbelievable.”

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Johnson has spent parts of the past two hockey seasons in New Jersey’s minor league system. The Devils released a statement Thursday evening saying the organization plans to release Johnson, but wouldn’t comment any further.

“Based on the ruling, the club has initiated the process required to terminate Mr. Johnson’s standard player’s contract,” the statement said.

Johnson’s lawyer Evan Weber said his client wants to deal with the case sooner rather than later.

“Now that there has been a final decision made, obviously it didn’t go in his favour but he wants to ultimately wants to move on with his life,” Weber said Friday.

There has been no decision made on his appeal.

Weber said in the long term, Johnson wants to have a career in hockey.

(CKLW)

The Canadian Press