KHL responds to Reid Boucher's sentencing, lawyer weighs in on whether he can continue in Russia

The KHL has released a statement following the sentencing of Yaroslavl Lokomotiv forward Reid Boucher, and continues to insist it needs more information before making a decision on Boucher's fate in the league.

"The KHL adheres to the principle announced earlier: it condemns all forms of violence and abuse," said the league's statement. "The league and the club are working together on this situation, and now we are waiting for documents from the United States to review the official court decision. After that, all official statements will be made."

Boucher, 28, was sentenced to four years of probation and a one-year suspended jail sentence, provided he successfully completes the probation. If that happens, the conviction will no longer appear on Boucher's public record.

Court documents stated Boucher coerced his 12-year-old billet sister into sexual contact twice using threats of exposing a video of her dancing the first time, and threatening to tell people about the first incident the second time. Boucher was 17 at the time and was staying in Michigan while enrolled in USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.

As for whether Boucher can legally continue to work in Russia, a lawyer interviewed by Championat.com said there's nothing that prevents him from doing so.

"Boucher's sentence does not prohibit him from continuing to work in the Russian Federation," said Andrei Knyazev. "The sentence sounds something like this: behave well - you won't go to jail. The only thing is that he has to comply with this probation by not committing crimes, new offenses. And it makes no difference where he'll behave himself and not commit any offenses: in Russia or Zambia."

Boucher has been playing hockey in Russia for the past two seasons. Before that, he played 133 games in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators. Boucher pleaded guilty to the sexual assault charge in court in December. He was originally charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. However, during the court appearance in December, the judge "agreed to let Boucher enter a plea for the lesser charge and agreed to sentence him with no upfront jail time through the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, or HYTA."

Source: Championat.com

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