Blackhawks Suspend Prospect Garret Ross Amid 'Revenge Porn' Case
(CBS) The Blackhawks announced in a written statement that they have suspended prospect Garret Ross indefinitely pending the outcome of his legal proceedings. Ross, 23, is being prosecuted with one felony count of "non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images," also known as revenge porn.
"On Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2016, the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs learned of a legal proceeding against IceHogs player Garret Ross," the team said in its statement. "At that time, we excused Garret from team activities pending our preliminary review of the matter. After further review, we have determined to suspend Garret indefinitely pending the outcome of the legal process. Because this is a pending legal proceeding, we will have no further comment at this time."
Ross, who currently plays for the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, is facing charges, according to TMZ and multiple reports. The report states that Ross shared a photo of a woman "engaged in a sexual act, which was obtained under circumstances which Ross should have known the image was to remain private" and that Ross had known the woman "had not consented to the dissemination."
The state of Illinois in July of 2015 passed a "revenge porn law" that went into effect in July 2015.
From the Balough Law Offices blog:
Under the new law, non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images occurs when an image of a person over 18, who is identifiable from the image or information displayed with the image, is engaged in a sexual act or "whose intimate parts are exposed, in whole or in part," the image was obtained "under circumstances in which a reasonable person would know or understand that the image was to remain private," and where the person depicted has not given consent for the dissemination.
Ross had played in 59 games this season at AHL Rockford, recording seven goals and 13 assists. He was held out of Saturday's game.
Jail time of up to three years is a potential penalty.