Former NBA player Ben McLemore was sentenced to 100 months in Oregon state prison after being convicted of raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman at a 2021 house party.
Former NBA guard Ben McLemore has been sentenced to 100 months (over eight years) in Oregon state prison following his conviction on multiple charges related to a 2021 sexual assault, per ESPN.
Ben McLemore
Ben McLemore
Position: SG
Age: 32
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Birth place: Missouri, United States of America
A Clackamas County jury found the 32-year-old McLemore guilty on one count each of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and second-degree sexual abuse.
He was acquitted on an additional second-degree sexual abuse charge. McLemore, who last played in the NBA in 2022, pleaded not guilty to all charges and did not speak at his sentencing.
"Many people are often afraid to report this type of conduct for a number of reasons," Clackamas County First Assistant District Attorney Scott Healy said in a statement. "Hopefully the victim's strength and courage in this case will give others the fortitude to come forward in circumstances where sexual assault has occurred."
"The sentence the defendant received today should serve as a reminder that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in our community, and that the Clackamas County DA's Office will always work hard to hold offenders accountable and provide justice to victims."
Credit AEK BC
The incident occurred at a house party on October 3, 2021, at the Lake Oswego home of Robert Covington, then a teammate of McLemore’s on the Portland Trail Blazers.
The victim, 21 at the time, testified that she had passed out from heavy drinking and partially regained consciousness during the assault.
McLemore’s defense team argued the encounter was consensual and claimed the woman was not too intoxicated to consent.
His attorney, Kristen Winemiller, told ESPN: "We hope the Oregon Legislature will adopt a 'second look' process that would evaluate whether he should serve the entire 100-month sentence or whether, beyond the short alcohol-influenced encounter that led to this conviction, he is a considerate and humble person who has lived an honorable, community-focused life."
McLemore was selected 7th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings and played nine NBA seasons with the Kings, Grizzlies, Rockets, Lakers, and Trail Blazers. After his NBA stint, he played professionally in China, Greece, and Spain.
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