Overview
- District Judge Marc Barron ruled the case should proceed after prosecutors met the probable-cause threshold at the preliminary examination.
- Kesler faces two misdemeanor counts stemming from an alleged Jan. 1 incident at his Michigan home involving a 16-year-old reported to be a friend of his eldest daughter.
- According to court testimony reported by The Athletic, the teen said she awoke on a couch to Kesler’s foot rubbing her crotch and her foot touching his penis over shorts.
- The complaint alleges sexual contact through force or coercion or that Kesler had reason to know the victim was physically helpless.
- Kesler pleaded not guilty when charges were filed on Oct. 23, and his attorney denies the allegations as baseless while noting they will contest the case in court; a conviction could carry up to two years in prison under Michigan law.