Fox News February, 3, 2024 covers Heath Hyde’s win.
Franklin County jury finds former NHL player not guilty on 2 sexual assault charges; deadlocked on 3rd related charge
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Texas – Former Dallas Stars center Mike Ribeiro has been found not guilty for two sexual assault charges stemming back to June 2021.
The trial lasted more than a week in Franklin County, about 100 miles east of Dallas.
A jury was deadlocked on a third charge, attempted sexual assault.
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 27: Mike Ribeiro #63 of the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on October 27, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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The former hockey player was accused of sexually assaulting two women on a boat and another on a jet ski on Lake Cypress.
The county DA has not said if they will re-try the case for that third charge.
Ribeiro played for the stars from 2006 to 2012.
Mike Ribeiro(Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)
By KLTV Digital Media Staff
Published: Feb. 2, 2024 at 5:14 PM CST|Updated: Feb. 2, 2024 at 5:16 PM CST
MOUNT VERNON, Texas (KLTV) – A Franklin County jury has found former NHL player Mike Ribeiro not guilty of sexual assault.
Mike Ribeiro, who played for the Dallas Stars from 2006 to 2011, was charged with and found not guilty on two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault. The jury deadlocked on the count of attempted sexual assault. It is not yet clear whether Ribeiro will be retried on the third charge.
His trial has been ongoing in Franklin County since Jan. 23.
The jury has been deliberating for more than 11 hours in total since closing arguments were made on Thursday.
Update
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- Former Dallas Stars player Mike Ribeiro was originally accused of sexually assaulting two women on a boat and trying to assault a third woman on a jet ski in East Texas in 2021.
- During his first trial, he was found not guilty on the two sexual assault charges. Jurors couldn’t agree on the third attempted sexual assault charge.
- This time around, Ribeiro accepted a plea deal, admitting he touched the victim without her consent.
DALLAS – Former Dallas Stars player Mike Ribeiro pleaded guilty to indecent assault in a case that involved three women in East Texas in 2021.
Former Dallas Stars Player Mike Ribeiro Accepts Plea Deal in Indecent Assault Case
In a significant development in the legal saga of former Dallas Stars player Mike Ribeiro, the athlete has pleaded guilty to indecent assault, concluding a case that dates back to 2021 and involved multiple charges of sexual misconduct.
Ribeiro was accused of sexually assaulting two women and attempting to assault a third woman while on a boat and jet ski in East Texas. In his initial trial, he was found not guilty of the two sexual assault charges, with the jury deadlocked on a third charge of attempted assault.
In a plea deal reached this week, Ribeiro admitted to touching one of the victims without her consent. The agreement resulted in the charge being reduced to indecent assault. Consequently, Ribeiro received credit for the single day he spent in jail and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine plus court costs.
Criminal Defense Attorney Heath Hyde, representing Ribeiro, highlighted the outcome as a success. “We achieved two not guilty verdicts and secured a favorable plea deal on the third charge,” Hyde stated. “This resolution reflects the complexities of the case and results in minimal consequences for Mr. Ribeiro.”
The case has attracted interest from both legal news followers and sports fans, given Ribeiro’s history with the NHL and the serious nature of the allegations. The resolution marks the end of a legal chapter for Ribeiro, who has faced significant public scrutiny throughout the proceedings.
For those following this case, the plea deal underscores the impact of effective legal representation in navigating complex legal challenges, particularly those involving high-profile individuals.
