Former NHLer Reid Boucher pleads guilty in court, receives his sentence immediately

Former NHLer Reid Boucher has been sentenced to four years of probation, with one year of jail time suspended if he successfully completes the probation in a closed Washtenaw County court hearing yesterday in his 2011 sexual assault case involving a 12-year-old.

Boucher, now 28 years old but 17 years old at the time of the allegations, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving penetration with someone between the ages of 13 and 16 years old. If you're out of the loop on this story, Boucher is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 12 year old girl, a resident of his billet family's home, while with the U.S. National Development Program in Michigan. Again, it's worth reiterating that Boucher was 17 years old at the time of the allegations.

The woman, now 23 years old, had originally been seeking a first degree sexual assault charge with a penalty of 25 years to life in prison, and the third-degree charge normally carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, including sex offender registration for Boucher but was unsuccessful. As it stands, Boucher will likely never serve any jail time for his alleged crimes.

"I'm so glad that even if this wasn't the outcome that I was hoping for, that it worked out in the end, in some capacity," she said in an anonymous quote provided to the Detroit Free Press.

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She also appreciated the jail sentence, though suspended. And she appreciated learning the prosecutor's office has some training planned with the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Before coming forward, the woman suffered self-harm, an eating disorder, and from substance use disorder. And the criminal justice process made her feel revictimized, she said. 

- Detroit Free Press

As for Boucher, he has declined to make a statement but his lawyer did say:

"Everyone is quick to judge without knowing all the facts. Eleven years have passed and there most certainly appears to be revisionist history by the complainant in this case. That is evident by the inconsistent and embellished statements made by her.

"Reid Boucher is a genuine, caring and hard working young man.

"We were prepared to go to trial, but the prosecution presented a fair deal and Reid chose what was best for his family."

- Detroit Free Press