Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane won’t be charged following rape investigation

Patrick Kane will not face charges following a three-month rape investigation by Hamburg Police and Erie County District Attorney’s Office. Kane, 26, became the subject of an investigation following rape allegations made against him in August.

Patrick Kane will not face charges following an “exhaustive investigation” by the Town of Hamburg Police and Office of the Erie County District Attorney into rape allegations made against him in August.

In a statement released by Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III, “the Office of the Erie County District Attorney will not present this matter to an Erie County Grand Jury,” and no criminal charges will be laid against Kane.

Kane, 26, became the subject of an investigation on Aug. 2 when the alleged victim said Kane had raped her at his home in Hamburg, N.Y.

Sedita’s statement included a brief summary of the findings of the three-month investigation into the rape allegations. Sedita wrote there were inconsistencies between the accounts of the accuser and witnesses, that Kane had made no incriminating statements and exhibited no “conduct consistent with a consciousness of guilt,” that evidence tended to contradict the claim the woman was raped on Kane’s bed, and that DNA results didn’t corroborate the claim of penetration, which Sedita added is, “a required element of proof for a rape charge.”

Sedita confirmed earlier reports that the alleged victim signed a “non-prosecution affidavit” that states she does not wish to criminally prosecute Kane for any charges that may have stemmed from the investigation. It also states she does so by her, “own free will and without any promises or compensation.” According to the statement, the affidavit was an “important factor” in deciding not to pursue charges against Kane, but not the “decisive” element in the decision.

“The totality of the credible evidence -- the proof -- does not sufficiently substantiate the complainant’s allegation that she was raped by Patrick Kane and this so-called “case” is rife with reasonable doubt,” Sedita wrote.