Patrick Kane Won't Be Prosecuted on Rape Allegations After Police Investigation

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane will not face criminal charges after a woman claimed she was raped by the NHL player at his home near Buffalo in early August.

Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III released the findings Thursday morning:

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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.

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However, Kane will be subject to an NHL investigation, according to a statement passed along by ESPN's Craig Custance:

Kane and the Blackhawks each issued statements on the decision, per Yahoo Sports NHL:

Dan Herbeck, Lou Michel and Tim Graham of the Buffalo News first reported a young woman accompanied a friend to Kane's home during the early morning hours of Aug. 2. The alleged victim claimed she was then "overpowered and raped" at the residence.

A short time later, she went to a local hospital for a rape examination, according to the report. The case eventually moved to a grand jury, and everybody in the home on the night of the alleged incident was issued a subpoena to appear, per Claudine Ewing of WGRZ.

Sedita also noted:

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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." ...

... 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.

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While the investigation was ongoing, Kane lost a high-profile endorsement, and his status with the Blackhawks became the focus of speculation.

Darren Rovell and Katie Strang of ESPN noted in August that Electronic Arts decided to take Kane off the cover of the NHL 16 video game, an honor he was originally supposed to share with teammate Jonathan Toews. He was also removed as a spokesman for the game.

Then, in early September, Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times reported at least five teams contacted Chicago to check on the winger's status after the allegations surfaced. Lazerus noted the "image-conscious" Hawks had previously warned Kane to stay out of further trouble.

Kane previously made headlines for his actions during a Cinco de Mayo weekend celebration in Madison, Wisconsin, three years ago. He was also arrested in 2009 after an incident involving an alleged attack on a cab driver in Buffalo, but the criminal charges were later dropped in the case. 

While it's obviously good news for Kane on a personal level, the ruling also saves the Blackhawks from a potentially major distraction as they defend their latest Stanley Cup. They would have needed to make some difficult decisions if he had been charged.

Instead, Kane should continue filling his usual prominent role for Chicago moving forward.