PONTIAC, Mich. — A doctor associated with youth hockey teams in the Detroit region entered a no-contest plea on Tuesday to charges of sexual assault and other offenses affecting 13 individuals, some of whom were teenagers.
Zvi Levran, often referred to as the “hockey doctor,” developed relationships with hockey players during their teenage years and continued to interact with some of them as they grew into adulthood, according to authorities.
Among the accounts shared by victims were allegations that Levran inappropriately touched them during sports physicals or injury treatments, and he reportedly joined them in showers post-workout. One victim recounted that during a session for a hip injury, Levran engaged in oral sex.
“This plea ensures that Levran’s victims are spared the trauma of testifying at trial and any further uncertainty regarding the case’s outcome,” stated Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald.
In Michigan, a no-contest plea is equated to a guilty conviction when it comes to sentencing. At 68 years old, Levran admitted to 28 charges, the most severe being third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Defense lawyer Jonathan Jones expressed to the judge that accepting the plea “just seemed like the right decision.”
Previously, during court proceedings, Jones had characterized Levran as an “eccentric gentleman” who did not act with sexual intentions when handling patients.
The case has drawn parallels to that of Larry Nassar, another Michigan-based sports doctor serving time for sexually assaulting teens and young women, including elite gymnasts, and for possessing images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
