Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane has been cleared in an investigation into a sexual encounter at a downtown hotel in December.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office says after a "careful and diligent examination into all of the known facts," there is no support for the filing of any criminal charges.
"No charges will be filed because there's no evidence to support the filing of a criminal action," said Flaherty, who added that no criminal complaint had ever been filed.
Kane was being looked at by the DA's office and the Buffalo Police sex offense squad after a woman who spent the night in his hotel room sought treatment at ECMC. Hospital workers then contacted police.
"It was just normal protocol," said Flaherty. "That would be a normal process in any investigation of this type."
Kane, soon after, issued a statement saying he did nothing wrong.
Evander Kane is the second high-profile hockey player to come under the microscope in the Erie County DA's office within a year. Buffalo native and Chicago Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane, no relation to the Sabres' Evander Kane, was accused of raping a woman in his Hamburg home last summer. The DA at tha time, Frank Sedita, chose not to pursue criminal charges in a case that took bizarre turns, including an incident involving an alleged tampered evidence kit bag which was later determined to be a hoax.
Earlier this week, the National Hockey League declared Patrick Kane's case closed.
Before addressing the Evander Kane matter, Flaherty encouraged rape and sexual assault victims not to be afraid and to come forward.
"If you or someone you love is the victim of a sexual assault, we are here to help you," Flaherty said. "We collaborate with professionals from all disciplines, social workers, mental health professionals, physicians, investigators, all to help victims of sexual assault navigate the system."
