Ben McLemore received a 100‑month sentence in Oregon state prison Wednesday after a Clackamas County jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 21‑year‑old woman at a Lake Oswego house party in October 2021. The 32‑year‑old former NBA guard was convicted on one count of first‑degree rape, one count of first‑degree unlawful sexual penetration and one count of second‑degree sexual abuse. He was acquitted on an additional charge of second‑degree sexual abuse. McLemore pleaded not guilty to all four charges and has not played in the NBA since 2022.
McLemore did not speak in court and appeared in inmate clothing at Clackamas County Jail. Clackamas County First Assistant District Attorney Scott Healy offered a statement saying, “Many people are often afraid to report this type of conduct for a number of reasons. Hopefull,y the victim’s strength and courage in this case will give others the fortitude to come forward in circumstances where sexual assault has occurred.” Healy also said that McLemore’s sentence “should serve as a reminder that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in our community.”
Evidence presented at trial centered on a heavy drinking party at the home of Trail Blazers teammate Robert Covington, where the victim passed out on a living room couch around 2 a.m. Healy told jurors she regained partial consciousness when McLemore sexually penetrated her and engaged in intercourse. McLemore’s defense argued the victim initiated contact and had consented.
In a statement Thursday, McLemore took responsibility saying, “I strive to live with kindness, to be gentle and show up for my people. I care deeply about those around me. And, even in this dark moment, I believe in the power of grace and redemption. I believe in second chances, and will work every day to earn mine.”
His attorney Kristen Winemiller urged a review process to determine whether he should serve the full sentence, offering that the incident was a “short alcohol‑influenced encounter.” The victim also spoke via video stating, “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… I now understand why so many victims hesitate or never report what happened to them.”
McLemore was the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft and went on to play professionally overseas in China, Greece, and Spain.
Discover more from Baller Alert
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
