Former NBA player Ben McLemore has been convicted of raping a 21-year-old woman during a party at a lake house in Oregon, a jury announced on Thursday. The jury in Clackamas County found McLemore guilty of serious offenses including rape, unlawful sexual penetration, and one count of sexual abuse, while acquitting him of another count of sexual abuse. Sentencing is set for Wednesday.
District Attorney John Wentworth emphasized the commitment of the Clackamas County justice system to hold individuals accountable, regardless of their celebrity status. “This case demonstrates my office prosecutes criminal acts regardless of the offender’s community status,” he stated.
The incident occurred on October 3, 2021, at the Lake Oswego home of his Trail Blazers teammate Robert Covington. Prosecutors argued that the encounter was non-consensual, citing the woman’s incapacitation due to excessive drinking. Evidence presented included photographs of her in distress and passing out.
In her testimony, the woman described feeling terrified and unable to stop the assault. She indicated that she had no recollection of who McLemore was as the assault unfolded. McLemore, meanwhile, maintained that the interaction was consensual and claimed he left the home immediately after, following a message from his then-wife.
The trial featured conflicting narratives regarding the nature of the encounter. While the prosecution asserted the evidence pointed clearly to guilt, the defense argued that the circumstances of the night suggested a different outcome.
It is noteworthy that the victim did not seek financial compensation but pursued criminal charges because she felt strongly about accountability for such actions.
McLemore, who was drafted seventh overall in the 2013 NBA draft, had a professional career spanning several franchises and has since played in Europe and China after his last NBA season in 2022.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by victims of sexual assault, particularly in high-profile situations, and highlights the importance of the legal system’s role in delivering justice. The hope is that justice prevails, encouraging more victims to come forward.