Former Dallas Stars center Mike Ribeiro pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Monday for groping a woman at an East Texas lake in 2021.
Ribeiro, who played six seasons with the Stars, was accused of a trio of alleged attacks at Lake Cypress Springs in Franklin County, about 100 miles east of Dallas. He was acquitted of two sexual assault charges at a trial in February, and a judge declared a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on a third, attempted sexual assault charge.
The plea deal came as jury selection was slated to begin for Ribeiro’s retrial on the outstanding attempted sexual assault charge.
Ribeiro was convicted of indecent assault and was given credit for a day spent in jail and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine plus court fees, according to a news release. Attempted sexual assault, a felony, is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
“I want to thank all women who endure unimaginable scrutiny and have the courage to stand up for truth against powerful men,” District Attorney Will Ramsay said in a statement. “The young lady in this case was, once again, ready to place herself on the altar of truth for the sake of justice.”
Ribeiro’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.
According to testimony at his February trial, Ribeiro was accused of raping a woman on his speedboat, digitally penetrating another woman and trying to attack a third on June 23, 2021, while at the lake where he once owned a vacation home.
The Dallas Morning News does not typically name those alleging sexual assault.
The woman who said Ribeiro attempted to assault her has said she was driving a WaveRunner with Ribeiro when he put his hand under her life vest and bikini top, groping her breast. She said she elbowed Ribeiro and told him not to touch her. Minutes later, Ribeiro put his hand on her leg, up her swimsuit and groped her, she said.
Ribeiro’s guilty plea means he admitted to touching the woman without her consent.
“Forgiveness is not a feeling, it’s a choice,” the woman told Ribeiro in court Monday. “Although I have forgiven you, I can only pray the others affected will choose to do the same, not for you, but for themselves.”
The criminal cases are not the first time Ribeiro has been accused of sexual assault; a former nanny sued him and his wife in 2015, alleging that he assaulted her in 2012.
Ribeiro played in a half-dozen seasons for the Montreal Canadiens before being traded to Dallas in 2006. With the Stars, he made one All-Star team in 2008, and led the team in points for three seasons. Ribeiro later played for the Washington Capitals, the Phoenix Coyotes and the Nashville Predators before the end of his career in 2017.