Former Wichita hockey player convicted of child sex abuse

Sedgwick County jurors have returned a guilty verdict against a former Wichita hockey player charged with sexually abusing a 9-year-old.

Michael A. Chighisola, 49, was convicted Friday of two counts of rape and one count of aggravated criminal sodomy of a child younger than 14, according to Dan Dillon, spokesman for the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Jurors acquitted him of four additional counts: two of rape and two of aggravated criminal sodomy.

The crimes took place in 2008 after the passage of Jessica’s Law, which strengthened penalties for some child sex offenders. That means Chighisola could be ordered to serve a sentence of life in prison on each conviction.

Chighisola joined the Wichita Thunder in 1995 and was a top scorer that season but was suspended after he stole money from his teammates in January 1996. He did not play a complete season.

He remains jailed in lieu of $100,000 bond, according to online jail records. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 9:52 AM with the headline "Former Wichita hockey player convicted of child sex abuse."