Former NBA player Ben McLemore was convicted of raping a 21-year-old woman at a Lakehouse party that included several of his teammates from the Portland Trail Blazers, as ruled by a judge on Thursday.
A judge in Clackamas County, located just south of Portland, found the 32-year-old McLemore guilty of one count each of rape, illegal sexual penetration, and sexual abuse.
Interestingly, he was acquitted of another charge of sexual abuse, according to reports from KGW, a Portland TV station.
The judgment was initially expected on Wednesday.
“We understand the public’s concern that people with celebrity status might evade justice. That’s not how it works in Clackamas County. This case illustrates our commitment to prosecuting criminal actions irrespective of the offender’s social standing,” remarked the district attorney.
The accusations arose from a party held on October 3, 2021, at a home in Lake Oswego, owned by Trail Blazers player Robert Covington.
During the trial, prosecutors maintained that the sexual encounters constituted rape, while McLemore’s defense argued that the interactions were consensual.
The woman testified that after consuming a significant amount of alcohol, she found herself incapacitated and unable to consent.
Prosecutors presented evidence including a photo of her collapsed over a toilet, which they claimed illustrated her state that night.
She recounted a moment when she briefly regained consciousness during the assault and felt paralyzed with fear.
“I don’t know who this person is,” she stated in court, explaining that to her, it felt like a stranger was assaulting her. The Associated Press typically avoids disclosing the identities of sexual assault victims.
There was a moment when she claimed she tried to slip off the couch to escape, but McLemore allegedly pulled her back and continued the assault.
Covington had previously testified that he noticed a woman flirting with McLemore while he was seated on a couch.
McLemore also testified that he had been drinking, but asserted that any sexual activity was consensual. He mentioned that he and the woman had not spoken before, during, or after the incident, and he left the home shortly afterward.
One of McLemore’s attorneys, Chris Weinmiller, mentioned that he left after receiving an upset message from his then-wife.
Clackamas County Prosecutor Scott Healy emphasized that there shouldn’t be any misunderstanding regarding the evidence. “If we take into account all elements of the case, we stand by the verdict of guilt,” he stated.
Another attorney for McLemore, Lisa Maxfield, argued passionately for her client’s innocence, claiming, “The most logical conclusion is that in situations where both individuals are intoxicated, the male being more so, the truly fair verdict is innocent.”
The woman shared that she didn’t engage an attorney to seek financial compensation from McLemore; rather, she opted to pursue this as a criminal case.
McLemore, a former college player from Kansas, was selected seventh overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. He has also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers, completing his last NBA season in Portland during 2021-2022.
Since then, he has been active in Europe and China. Last August, he signed with a team in Turkey.
