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Jake Virtanen receives not guilty verdict at sex assault trial

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TJ Tucker
July 26, 2022  (2:11 PM)
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The verdict is in for former NHLer Jake Virtanen in his sexual assault trial. The jury has found him not guilty. Virtanen is a free man. He does still have to deal with a civil suit involving the alleged incident.

According to reports, Virtanen openly wept in the courtroom when the verdict was read. He claimed during his trial that the plaintiff in the case was a willing participant during their sexual encounter in a Vancouver hotel room in 2017. The now 23-year-old woman, who was 18 in 2017, testified that she had repeatedly told Virtanen no, but he proceeded anyway.

Virtanen was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks 6th overall in 2014. When the allegations were made public in May of 2021, he was placed on leave by the team. He was later bought out of the time remaining on his contract and headed to Russia to play in the KHL. As of right now, Virtanen isn't playing professional hockey, although that may change with this verdict.

The jury in the case began deliberations at 3:30 pm Monday afternoon. When the judge arrived to the courthouse on Tuesday morning, he was told a verdict had been reached.