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Greater than a decade faraway from being a promising draft prospect, Ben McLemore has seen his profession fizzle amid authorized points.
After an 11-day trial, the jury spent roughly 10 hours deliberating to seek out McLemore responsible on three counts: first-degree rape, first-degree illegal sexual penetration and second-degree sexual abuse, in line with a press launch from Clackamas County.
“We acknowledge there are those that concern people with superstar standing or a place of prominence can keep away from prosecution. Not in Clackamas County. This case demonstrates my workplace prosecutes felony acts whatever the offender’s neighborhood standing,” stated District Legal professional John Wentworth.
The assault occurred again in 2021 when McLemore was at Portland Path Blazers teammate Robert Covington’s dwelling for a celebration.
As soon as the celebration was over, the 21-year-old sufferer, who was “hammered unconscious drunk,” —and witnesses say was vomiting earlier within the evening and had slurred speech—, handed out on a sofa round 2 am.
32-year-old McLemore finally crashed on the identical sofa at round 6 am. The girl woke as much as him penetrating her along with his fingers and finally having intercourse along with her whereas she was “fading out and in” of consciousness.
“I don’t know who this particular person is,” she testified. “This can be a random particular person that’s doing one thing like this to me.”
She stated she even tried to let her physique slide to the ground, pondering he’d cease, however as a substitute he repositioned her on the sofa and continued the assault.
She claims she by no means gave him consent and was “probably the most alcohol she’d ever consumed in her life and the “most intoxicated she’s ever been,” whereas his protection legal professionals say she truly initiated the intimacy.
“(The defendant) must be held accountable for what he did. You may’t do this to anyone, not to mention anyone that you simply don’t know both. You don’t do this to folks and simply have the ability to get away with it. I don’t care who you’re,” the sufferer stated whereas testifying.
The Sacramento Kings picked McLemore with the seventh decide within the 2013 draft, the place he spent the primary few seasons of his profession earlier than being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers. He’d final performed for the Path Blazers, the place the assault occurred earlier than he headed abroad, most not too long ago enjoying for Turkish basketball membership Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli.
McLemore shall be sentenced on Wednesday, July 9. See social media’s response to the ruling under.
Former NBA Participant Ben McLemore Convicted Of Raping Drunk Lady At Home Occasion
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