Former Pittsburgh Penguins enforcer William Tibbetts, or Billy Tibbetts, is in custody, according to latest reports. Authorities recently arrested the 51-year-old on a warrant tied to the alleged harassment of a former Massachusetts police chief.
The former player has a past history of legal troubles, but the latest charges, which include witness intimidation, have again brought his off-ice issues into focus.
William Tibbetts Arrested As Harassment Case Against Former Police Chief Intensifies
Tibbetts, who previously played for the Penguins, was taken into custody in Pennsylvania on March 17, after U.S. Marshals executed a warrant issued in Scituate, Massachusetts. He was later arraigned in Hingham District Court on March 20, where he pleaded not guilty to multiple charges tied to an alleged violation of a harassment prevention order.
The case includes 7 counts of violating that order and 1 count of intimidating a witness or public official, according to court records.
Investigators allege that Tibbetts used social media platforms to target former Scituate police chief W. Michael Stewart. The accusations are part of a broader pattern tied to his past interactions with the former police chief, following his conviction in allegations of statutory rape in 1992, per the Globe.
Authorities claim Tibbetts continued posting content about Stewart despite an existing court order, with prosecutors citing videos that included serious allegations and personal attacks.
Court documents outline a long history between the two, dating back decades. In 2019, Stewart obtained a harassment prevention order after alleging that Tibbetts posted “fabricated stories about him on almost a daily basis.”
Tibbetts has faced legal consequences related to similar behavior before. He pled guilty to criminal harassment charges in September 2019 and received probation, but was arrested shortly after on drug-related charges and served additional jail time.
Records also show further allegations in 2021 involving violations of protective orders, which remain part of the current legal backdrop.
Following his March arrest, Tibbetts was released after posting $25,000 bail. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for May 15, as the case continues to move through the court system. His attorney declined to comment, while local police and Stewart did not provide statements.
The 51-year-old’s hockey career included 82 NHL games between 2000 and 2003 with the Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, and New York Rangers. He was primarily known as an enforcer and spent much of his career in minor leagues, including the AHL and ECHL.
Tibbetts’ time in professional hockey, however, has often been overshadowed by repeated legal issues both before and after his playing days.
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