Conviction of Ben McLemore
A Clackamas County jury has convicted former NBA player Ben McLemore of multiple sexual offenses stemming from an incident that occurred in 2021. After an intensive 11-day trial followed by nearly 10 hours of deliberation, the court found the 32-year-old McLemore guilty of:
- One count of first-degree rape
- One count of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration
- One count of second-degree sexual abuse
However, the jury did not convict him on an additional allegation of second-degree sexual abuse. McLemore, who has not played in the NBA since 2022, maintained his innocence throughout the trial, pleading not guilty to the four charges brought against him.
Details of the Incident
The charges arose from a report of a sexual assault that took place on October 3, 2021, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Following the report, local law enforcement initiated an investigation, which led to McLemore being identified as a suspect. In February 2024, a grand jury in Clackamas County reviewed the evidence, including testimony from the victim, and subsequently issued an indictment against McLemore, along with an arrest warrant. Two months later, McLemore was apprehended by U.S. Marshals.
Sentencing and Career Overview
The formal sentencing for McLemore has been set for July 9 at 9:30 a.m. PT. A spokesperson for the player has not yet provided any remarks regarding the verdict. McLemore was selected as the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft from the University of Kansas and has had a career that spanned nine seasons with five different teams. Recently, after his tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers, he transitioned to international play in countries such as China, Greece, and Spain.
