Former NBA player Ben McLemore has been sentenced to 100 months (eight years, four months) in Oregon state prison after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman at a house party in Lake Oswego on Oct. 3, 2021.
The ruling from the jury came on Thursday, July 3 after an 11-day trial. Sentencing was Wednesday, July 9.
McLemore, 32, was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and second-degree sexual abuse. McLemore had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What brought the charges?
Prosecutors say the assault occurred at Robert Covington’s Lake Oswego house in October 2021. Covington and McLemore were teammates on the Portland Trail Blazers at the time.
Did Ben McLemore make a statement after the sentencing?
He did not.
McLemore’s attorney told ESPN: ‘We hope the Oregon Legislature will adopt a ‘second look’ process that would evaluate whether he should serve the entire 100 month sentence or whether, beyond the short alcohol-influenced encounter that led to this conviction, he is a considerate and humble person who has lived an honorable, community-focused life.’
What did the victim say?
“This has been the longest almost four years of my life. I never imagined that reporting this back in 2021 would lead to such an incredibly difficult and long journey,” she said in a press release. “These last few years have often felt like a weight that I’ve had to drag behind me, a constant reminder of the trauma that I haven’t been able to fully work through because there was no ending in sight.
“At the time of the assault, I had no idea who Mr. McLemore was. When I found out … I questioned whether I should really move forward and report what had happened, especially given his status.
“I came forward to hold him accountable for the harm he caused, to ensure that what happened to me never happens to anyone else.
“No one is above the law, no matter who they are or what position they hold.’
Who is Ben McLemore?
McLemore last played in the NBA in 2022. He was drafted seventh overall in 2013 and played for five teams over nine seasons. Most recently, he played professional basketball internationally in China and Europe.
This story has been updated with new information.