Loading Articles!

Former NBA Player Ben McLemore Found Guilty of Rape

Jean-Michel Dupont
Jean-Michel Dupont
"This is heartbreaking. No one deserves to go through that. #JusticeForVictims"
Hiroshi Nakamura
Hiroshi Nakamura
"How can he claim consent when she was passed out? Mind-boggling!"
Aisha Al-Farsi
Aisha Al-Farsi
"I hope he gets the maximum sentence. No one is above the law!"
Darnell Thompson
Darnell Thompson
"I don't understand how people can defend him. This isn't a joke."
Sergei Ivanov
Sergei Ivanov
"The victim is so brave for speaking out. We need more people like her."
Sofia Mendes
Sofia Mendes
"This case shows that celebrity status doesn’t shield you from consequences."
Jean-Michel Dupont
Jean-Michel Dupont
"What a fall from grace. It's tragic to see someone waste their talent like this."
Carlos Mendes
Carlos Mendes
"Why was he even at that party? It sounds like a recipe for disaster."
Thelma Brown
Thelma Brown
"Ben McLemore always seemed like a good guy. Guess we were wrong!"
Dmitry Sokolov
Dmitry Sokolov
"This will definitely change how people look at him moving forward."
Isabella Martinez
Isabella Martinez
"Can someone explain the defense's logic? It makes no sense at all."

2025-07-04T00:50:00Z


Oregon City, Oregon – Former NBA player Ben McLemore has been convicted of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman during a party at a lake house, an event that included many of his former teammates from the Portland Trail Blazers. A jury in Clackamas County delivered its verdict on Thursday, finding McLemore, 32, guilty of multiple charges including rape, unlawful sexual penetration, and one count of sexual abuse. However, he was acquitted on another count of sexual abuse, as reported by local station KGW.

The sentencing hearing for McLemore has been set for Wednesday, marking a significant moment in a case that has drawn public attention due to the celebrity status of the offender. Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth emphasized that the case stands as a testament to the legal system's commitment to prosecuting criminal offenses irrespective of the accused's stature in the community. “We recognize there are those who fear individuals with celebrity status or a position of prominence can avoid prosecution. Not in Clackamas County," he stated.

The charges against McLemore stem from an incident that occurred on October 3, 2021, at a home on Lake Oswego, owned by his Trail Blazers teammate Robert Covington. Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the sexual encounter was non-consensual, highlighting testimonies and evidence that illustrated the woman's incapacitated state. They presented photographs showing the victim in a vulnerable position, one image capturing her hovering over a toilet while another showed her unconscious on a couch.

During her testimony, the victim recounted waking up at one point during the assault, overwhelmed with fear. “I don’t know who this person is,” she said, describing the traumatic experience of being violated by someone she did not recognize. She demonstrated immense courage by detailing how she attempted to escape the situation, physically sliding her body to the floor in a desperate attempt to halt the assault. Yet, she testified that McLemore forcefully pulled her back onto the couch, continuing the attack.

Robert Covington, who was present at the party, testified that he observed the woman interacting with McLemore, suggesting a flirtatious atmosphere. Contrarily, McLemore claimed that he too had been drinking that night and maintained that any sexual encounter was consensual. He noted that he and the woman did not engage in any conversation before, during, or after the incident, and recounted leaving the party abruptly after receiving an angry text message from his then-wife, who was concerned about his whereabouts.

During the closing arguments, Clackamas County prosecutor Scott Healy urged the jury to consider the severity of the situation, asserting, “When you look at all the surrounding circumstances and you assess the evidence in this case, I submit to you that the defendant is guilty.” Meanwhile, defense attorney Lisa Maxfield insisted that the case warranted an acquittal, arguing, “The only reasonable verdict in a case where two people get drunk and have sex and the man is drunker than the woman, the only reasonable verdict in a case like that is not guilty.”

The victim made it clear that she had no intentions of hiring an attorney to pursue a civil suit against McLemore or seeking monetary compensation. Instead, her focus was on ensuring justice was served, stating, “You can’t do that to somebody, let alone somebody that you don’t know.”

Ben McLemore, who played college basketball at the University of Kansas, was drafted as the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. Over his career, he has played for several teams including the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and the Los Angeles Lakers, before ending his NBA tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2021-2022 season. Since then, McLemore has continued his career overseas, recently signing with a team in Turkey last August.

Profile Image George Bennett

Source of the news:   CNN

BANNER

    This is a advertising space.

BANNER

This is a advertising space.