Ben McLemore To Be Convicted on 3 Charges of Se***l Assault: Details

Former Portland Trailbalzers' player, Ben McLemore has found himself in hot waters for his actions in the past, catching the eye of the NBA world.

Ben McLemore To Be Convicted on 3 Charges of Se***l Assault: Details

Ben McLemore (Image By FirstSportz)

After ten hours of deliberation, a Clackamas County jury on July 3 found 32-year-old former Portland Trail Blazers player Ben McLemore guilty of first-degree rape and se**al assault. McLemore was charged with assaulting a heavily inebriated 21-year-old college student who had fainted on a couch during a party at teammate Robert Covington‘s house in Lake Oswego in 2021.

McLemore claimed that the woman made contact with him while he was sleeping, but the jury found him guilty on three of four counts despite his testimony that the encounter was consensual. Both McLemore and his accuser testified throughout the two-week trial, along with former Blazers players.

McLemore, 32, had previously entered a not guilty plea to two counts of second-degree se**al abuse, first-degree unlawful se**al penetration, and first-degree rape. Except for one se*ual abuse conviction, the jury found him guilty on all counts.

After closing arguments from both sides, the case was sent to the Clackamas County jury on Tuesday afternoon. The defense said that the sexual contact was consensual, while the prosecution characterized it as rape. However, the verdict went in favor of the accuser.

There’s absolutely no confusion in this case. 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.

Clackamas County prosecutor Scott Haley said

Later this summer, McLemore will be sentenced to at least eight years in prison. After the Blazers cut him loose in 2022, his NBA career stagnated, and he played abroad in China and Spain before being taken into custody by U.S. Marshals at Portland Airport.

Not the First time an NBA player has gotten into legal troubles

As mentioned above, Ben McLemore, a former NBA player, has found himself in hot water over his past actions. Notably, this is not the first time an NBA player(former/current) has gotten into legal troubles. Prominent names like Ja Morant, Josh Giddey, and Brandon Miller have also found themselves in these issues over the years.

Memphis Girzzlies, Ja Morant:

Regarding the Memphis Grizzlies’ star, Ja Morant, he was given an eight-game unpaid suspension by the NBA for “conduct detrimental to the league.” Eleven days after Morant began an Instagram Live video at a strip club displaying a revolver in his hand, he was suspended.

Ja Morant
Ja Morant (Credits: MARCA)

It appears that Morant did not learn his lesson. He received another suspension for brandishing a gun on Instagram Live two months after his initial one. According to Morant’s close buddy Davonte Pack, the gun was seen in a live stream. NBA commissioner Adam Silver described himself as “shocked.” Morant received a further 25-game suspension.

Chicago Bulls, Josh Giddey:

As for the Chicago Bulls’ Josh Giddey, an anonymous social media user accused him of having an inappropriate connection with a high school junior who was underage. The user claimed that there was photographic and video proof of the charge, but the account was terminated, and the posts were removed.

Giddey remained silent. The NBA and Newport Beach Police looked into the matter but found no hard evidence, clearing the player to play in the league.

Charlotte Hornets, Brandon Miller:

In 2023, Brandon Miller got into a lot of trouble. Miller was found to have given his buddy Darius Miles a gun that was used in the shooting death of a 23-year-old woman earlier that year. Michael Davis, Miller and Miles’ acquaintance, fired into a car carrying the woman (Jamea Jonae Harris).

Miller was exonerated of all charges after his lawyer contended that Miller did not know any intention to fire the weapon. He was chosen by Charlotte with the second overall pick.

It’s important to note that, since the middle of the 20th century, when professional sports became a major economic force, sportsmen have had to live under constant scrutiny. Their personal lives are now of public interest since they are regarded as brands rather than just athletes. Hence, they have to be wary of their actions at all times.

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