GM Deputy Senators asks for rejection of the accusation of "unfounded" harassment

BUFFALO, NY – Ottawa Senators Assistant General Manager Randy Lee has called the charges of harbadment against his client "unfounded" and asked if Lee was being treated fairly [19659002]. hearing in which Lee pleaded not guilty to a second charge of harbadment. He had already pleaded not guilty to an earlier charge

Lee is accused of making obscene comments and rubbing the shoulders of a 19-year-old man in May, while Buffalo hosted the NHL recognition team. He was suspended by the Senators.

Cambria stated that he was going to plead for harbadment charges to be dismissed on July 20, by which date Lee should appear in Buffalo City Court

. the claims being made, "said Cambria. "We think they are inappropriate, baseless and unfounded."

Lee was arrested on May 31 after prosecutors said he was still putting his hands on the driver's shoulders even after he was told to stop. He also referred to his bads

. Prosecutors filed a second harbadment charge, which fell under a separate paragraph of the legal code describing the violation. It defines harbadment as someone who "commits acts that alarm or seriously annoy" another person and "serves no legitimate purpose".

This differs from the original charge, which defines harbadment as someone who strikes or makes physical contact with another person.

Cambria stated that he knew of no video of what had happened, but that he would consider filing a petition for prosecutors to hand in their evidence.

Cambria raised concerns about whether Lee is treated differently by prosecutors because of his "

" I have never seen anyone from the district attorney's office hold a conference press release about a non-criminal violation, said Mr. Cambria. "Our hope is that this is treated for what it is, a low level accusation, that my client vehemently denies."

District Attorney John Flynn went to his office after Lee's first charge on June 1. Availability had to be moved to a bigger room because of the number of journalists present.

Cambria also questioned the motives of the 19-year-old driver, who hired lawyer Charles Desmond. Cambria said that he had already been contacted by Desmond and informed of the possibility that the driver filed a civil lawsuit against Lee and the senators.

"This must be taken into consideration to find out if there is any kind of money" Cambria said. "I mean, it's a person who claims that his shoulder has been rubbed and is now looking to be paid for by the team."

Desmond did not immediately respond to a message from the Associated Press requesting a comment.