Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee has been charged with harassment in relation to an incident with a 19-year-old hotel employee in a shuttle bus in Buffalo.

Lee has been released after an appearance, with no representation, in a Buffalo courtroom Friday morning. His passport was seized, and the judge told Lee to get a lawyer and that he must stay away from the Westin hotel, where he was staying.

Lee pleaded not guilty to the charge, the Senators said in a statement late Friday afternoon. The club said a judge told Lee to be in court on Monday at 11 a.m. for a pre-trial conference involving all parties.

On Wednesday at 10:30 p.m., according to district attorney John Flynn in Buffalo, Lee was in a hotel shuttle, heading back to the Westin from a restaurant and bar called 716 on Scott Street.

Flynn said Lee allegedly put his hands on a 19-year-old male employee’s shoulders and made “lewd” remarks. The young man then made a complaint to police, who investigated.

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If found guilty, Lee could face a fine and up 15 days in jail, although Flynn noted he wouldn’t seek any jail time.

“I normally don’t get into too many specifics about a pending matter but in this case I will for two reasons: No. 1 because I don’t want the rumour mill out there to be unfair to Mr. Lee and what actually happened here, and No. 2, it’s just a violation. It’s not going to go before a jury,” Flynn told reporters at his downtown office.

Photo by Bruce Garrioch / Postmedia

Flynn said Lee was at a function at 716 when the teen driver from the Westin was dispatched to pick him up.

Flynn said Lee asked the driver if he could sit in the front seat and the young man agreed he could.

“In the course of the drive back to the Westin Hotel, Mr. Lee allegedly put his hands on (the young man’s) shoulders and allegedly made some lewd comments,” Flynn said. “The young man told him to ‘stop’ and don’t touch him.

“Mr. Lee allegedly didn’t stop and put his hand back on his shoulders again and started rubbing his shoulders. The young man again told him to stop.”

Flynn alleged that when they pulled up to the hotel, “Mr. Lee made a reference to his own private parts and made a vulgar, lewd statement to the 19-year-old again.”

The driver, shaken by the incident, immediately reported the matter to the head of security at the Westin and Buffalo police investigated Thursday.

Flynn said Lee was held in custody Thursday night because he is a Canadian citizen.

“They didn’t want him fleeing the country,” Flynn said. “It’s not the crime of the century and I had no problem releasing him from custody but I wanted to ensure that we had his passport and that he would answer to this charge.”

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Lee, handcuffed, waited Friday to make his appearance before the judge at the courthouse on Delaware Avenue wearing a T-shirt. His appearance was delayed because his passport had to be delivered to Buffalo.

“The harassment charge reads with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person, the individual made physical contact or threatened to make physical contact,” said Flynn.

“We are aware that Randy Lee, our assistant general manager, was charged with the violation of “Harassment”. A violation is a non-criminal offence,” the Senators said in their statement. “This event took place on Wednesday evening in Buffalo, N.Y. He pled not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. A pre-trial conference is set for Monday morning.”

Flynn said he expects the matter will be resolved on Monday. Lee could face a fine and Flynn believed the maximum is $250.

“Mr. Lee is basically forced to stay the weekend. I think he was supposed to leave Saturday,” Flynn said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen Monday but I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets resolved on Monday.”

The Senators had issued a statement earlier Friday and said they were investigating the matter.

“We have been made aware of Randy Lee’s arraignment in Buffalo,” that statement read. “The Ottawa Senators will always hold all members of the organization to the highest standards of behaviour, regardless of the environment in which they operate.

“To this end, we are reviewing the situation with the greatest of care.”

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This won’t affect Lee’s ability to do business in the United States.

“I will get (the young man) justice,” Flynn said.

“It’s just a violation, it’s not even a misdemeanour, but still (Lee) is going to have to answer for what he (allegedly) did. He already spent a night in jail, so one night in jail is a wake-up call to him. If it’s resolved, I’m not going to ask for jail time.”

A violation is not as serious as a misdemeanour in the U.S. court system: a misdemeanour is a crime that becomes part of the criminal record, whereas a violation is below that.

“This is going to be very damaging for (Lee) publicly, he’s got a very public position as the assistant general manager of an NHL team. It could affect his employment.”

Flynn said he couldn’t comment on whether there was surveillance equipment in the shuttle bus.

“I’ve got a 19-year-old victim who thinks it’s probably a cool thing to get an assistant general manager of a hockey team in the car,” said Flynn. “How many times does a 19-year-old get a chance to talk to a general manager of a hockey team and talk about the Stanley Cup and different hockey players?

“That’s kind of a cool thing. What’s not cool is what (allegedly) happened, and so that’s why Mr. Lee is going to have to answer for, his uncool behaviour.”

Lee was in town for the NHL Combine that got underway Monday morning at the KeyBank Center.

Lee has been with the Senators for 24 years and most recently played a pivotal role in the club’s decision to move its AHL affiliate from Binghamton to Belleville.

Twitter: @sungarrioch