Ben McLemore acquired a 100‑month sentence in Oregon state jail Wednesday after a Clackamas County jury discovered him responsible of sexually assaulting a 21‑12 months‑outdated lady at a Lake Oswego home social gathering in October 2021. The 32‑12 months‑outdated former NBA guard was convicted on one rely of first‑diploma rape, one rely of first‑diploma illegal sexual penetration and one rely of second‑diploma sexual abuse. He was acquitted on an extra cost of second‑diploma sexual abuse. McLemore pleaded not responsible to all 4 prices and has not performed within the NBA since 2022.
McLemore didn’t converse in courtroom and appeared in inmate clothes at Clackamas County Jail. Clackamas County First Assistant District Lawyer Scott Healy provided an announcement saying, “Many individuals are sometimes afraid to report any such conduct for quite a lot of causes. Hopefull,y the sufferer’s power and braveness on this case will give others the fortitude to come back ahead in circumstances the place sexual assault has occurred.” Healy additionally mentioned that McLemore’s sentence “ought to function a reminder that any such conduct is not going to be tolerated in our neighborhood.”
Proof offered at trial centered on a heavy consuming social gathering on the dwelling of Path Blazers teammate Robert Covington, the place the sufferer handed out on a lounge sofa round 2 a.m. Healy instructed jurors she regained partial consciousness when McLemore sexually penetrated her and engaged in intercourse. McLemore’s protection argued the sufferer initiated contact and had consented.
In an announcement Thursday, McLemore took duty saying, “I attempt to stay with kindness, to be mild and present up for my folks. I care deeply about these round me. And, even on this darkish second, I imagine within the energy of grace and redemption. I imagine in second probabilities, and can work day-after-day to earn mine.”
His legal professional Kristen Winemiller urged a evaluation course of to find out whether or not he ought to serve the total sentence, providing that the incident was a “quick alcohol‑influenced encounter.” The sufferer additionally spoke by way of video stating, “This has been the longest virtually 4 years of my life. I by no means imagined that reporting this again in 2021 would result in such an extremely troublesome and lengthy journey… I now perceive why so many victims hesitate or by no means report what occurred to them.”
McLemore was the seventh general choose within the 2013 NBA draft and went on to play professionally abroad in China, Greece, and Spain.
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