Garret Ross, a Blackhawks prospect who currently plays for the Rockford IceHogs, is facing charges for revenge porn stemming from an August 2015 incident.
The 23-year-old has been charged with one count of nonconsensual dissemination of a sexual image, also referred to as revenge porn, according to DeKalb County records. The charge is a Class 4 felony, which could be punishable by one-to-three years in prison. Revenge porn became illegal in Illinois last year; the new law took effect on June 1, 2015.
Ross, who played in 59 games with the IceHogs this season, was scratched from the lineup over the weekend after Nick Burzych of SportstownChicago.com broke the news of the charge. Rockford coach Ted Dent told WREX earlier today that Ross, “has been excused from the team for personal reasons.” Ross, according to DeKalb County records, is scheduled for a status hearing on March 28 and a preliminary hearing on April 22.
A request for comment from the Blackhawks regarding Ross has not been returned as of this time.
Ross is in the final season of his current contract with the Blackhawks’ organization. He becomes a restricted free agent this offseason.