Judge orders Kanes to write cabbie an apology

Canwest News Service

Published: Thursday, August 27, 2009

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and his cousin, James Kane, have been ordered to send a written apology to a Buffalo cab driver as a result of an incident earlier this month.

Patrick  Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks addresses the media during a press conference surrounding his recent arrest following an altercation with a cab driver in Buffalo, on August 17, 2009 at the USA Hockey Men's Ice Hockey Olympic Orientation Camp in Woodridge, Illinois.

Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks addresses the media during a press conference surrounding his recent arrest following an altercation with a cab driver in Buffalo, on August 17, 2009 at the USA Hockey Men's Ice Hockey Olympic Orientation Camp in Woodridge, Illinois.

Photograph by : Getty Images

ARTICLE TOOLS

Font:
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

The Kanes pleaded guilty on Thursday in a Buffalo courtroom to a non-criminal charge of disorderly conduct after an Aug. 9 incident when the cousins were accused of assaulting Buffalo cabbie Jan Radecki.

Judge Thomas P. Amodeo, in granting the two conditional discharges, ordered them to pay $125 each in court fines and write an apology to the 62-year-old driver. They also must stay out of trouble during the next year to avoid any further penalties.

"Obviously I want to apologize to my family, the city of Buffalo, my team, the whole Blackhawks organization, obviously all the fans out there, my fans especially, just for being in a regrettable situation," Kane told reporters. "But it's behind me. It's time to move on."

Radecki had filed a police report alleging that he had been attacked by the Kanes after he told the cousins he didn't have 20 cents in change for their $13.80 fare. He said an altercation ensued and the Kanes grabbed him by the throat and struck him in the face, breaking his glasses in the process.

On Aug. 19, the cousins were indicted on misdemeanour charges of assault and theft of services and harassment charges. A felony assault charge was also dismissed.

Judge Amodeo, who could have ordered a $250 fine and sentenced the pair to 15 days in jail, told the Kanes "it wasn't a smart move."

Patrick Kane, 20, was the first overall pick in the 2007 National Hockey League entry draft. He'll be entering his third NHL season this fall.

The Buffalo News reports that James Kane, 21, is a college senior at Fredonia State College in Fredonia, N.Y.

 
 
 
 
 

Who is Canada's biggest threat?

Dave Waddell and Elliott Pap go head2head.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

past head2head

 

Debating the deals

Wayne Scanlan and George Johnson go head2head.

 

Canadiens goalie situation...

Dave Stubbs and Pat Hickey go head2head.

 

Two views on head injuries...

Cam Cole and John MacKinnon go head2head.