In a verdict delivered on July 3, 2025, a Clackamas County jury in Oregon discovered former NBA guard Ben McLemore responsible of first-degree rape, first-degree illegal sexual penetration, and second-degree sexual abuse, primarily based on a 2021 incident at a celebration whereas he performed for the Portland Path Blazers.
The Case and Verdict
After an 11-day trial and roughly 10 hours of jury deliberation, McLemore, 32, was convicted of three felony counts and acquitted on a second rely of second-degree sexual abuse.
The costs stem from an incident that occurred in Lake Oswego, Oregon, in the course of the early morning hours of October 3, 2021, at a celebration hosted on the dwelling of his then-teammate Robert Covington.
Prosecution’s Account
Prosecutors argued the sufferer was extraordinarily impaired—having vomited earlier within the night, with witnesses describing slurred speech, issue strolling, and hassle holding up her head. She finally handed out on a lounge sofa round 2 a.m., with McLemore later mendacity on the identical sofa.
In keeping with the District Legal professional’s workplace, the lady partially regained consciousness at roughly 6 a.m., throughout which McLemore dedicated digital penetration and later sexual activity. She was reportedly “fading out and in” of consciousness and in terror.
In her courtroom testimony, the sufferer stated: “You possibly can’t try this to someone, not to mention someone that you just don’t know… I don’t care who you might be.”
Protection Assertion and McLemore’s Response
McLemore maintained from the outset that the sexual encounter was consensual. In a press release shared final 12 months, he stated: “I didn’t rape this girl. I’m not sexually abusive. I’ve by no means pursued a sexual relationship once I understood the lady was not eager about me and performing willingly.”
Throughout his testimony at trial, McLemore claimed that the lady woke him by touching him, and that he left the residence instantly afterwards. He testified he had no dialog along with her earlier than, throughout, or after the encounter.
Protection attorneys argued the case was about two folks getting drunk, and the person being drunker than the lady. In keeping with courtroom filings, legal professional Lisa Maxfield urged the jury that the one affordable verdict was not responsible in such circumstances.
Feedback from Prosecuting Authorities
Clackamas County District Legal professional John Wentworth emphasised the case sends a transparent message: “Not in Clackamas County. This case demonstrates my workplace prosecutes prison acts whatever the offender’s group standing.”
Authorized Course of Overview
A Clackamas County grand jury indicted McLemore in February 2024, after listening to testimony from the sufferer and others. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals in April 2024.
McLemore had pled not responsible to all 4 counts earlier than the trial. The conviction on three counts marks a severe turning level within the case.
Sentencing and Potential Sentence
McLemore faces sentencing on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. PT in Clackamas County Circuit Court docket.
Beneath Oregon regulation, first-degree rape and first-degree illegal sexual penetration carry obligatory minimal sentences of roughly 100 months (about 8.3 years), as much as 20 years. Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class C felony with as much as 5 years in jail.
Affect on McLemore’s Profession and Fame
McLemore was drafted seventh total in 2013 by the Sacramento Kings and spent 9 seasons within the NBA with a number of groups together with the Grizzlies, Rockets, Lakers, and Path Blazers. He final performed within the NBA in the course of the 2021–22 season earlier than transferring abroad to play in China, Greece, Spain and Turkey.
The conviction marks a devastating blow to each his skilled basketball profession and public popularity, as a once-promising NBA guard falls from grace.
Broader Points Raised by the Case
Sufferer advocates and authorized analysts observe that this case underscores crucial points round consent, intoxication, and the way courts deal with allegations involving celeb or athlete standing. The sufferer testified she pursued the prison case not for monetary acquire however on precept: “you may’t try this to someone, not to mention someone that you just don’t know.”
The prosecution’s assertion that intoxication negated consent highlights ongoing debates about how severely courts deal with circumstances the place one social gathering is incapacitated. The proof introduced included photographs of the sufferer slumped over a bathroom and handed out on a sofa.
Subsequent Steps and Sentencing Outlook
The sentencing listening to on July 9 will probably be essential. Prosecutors might push for a sentence close to the obligatory minimal for the Class A felonies; the protection might request leniency. McLemore’s lack of prior prison report may very well be an element, although the severity of the offenses looms massive.
After sentencing, McLemore could also be eligible for attraction. However given the jury’s verdict and the consistency of testimony, overturning the conviction could be difficult.
Conclusion
Ben McLemore’s conviction represents a pivotal second within the justice system’s engagement with high-profile defendants. The Clackamas County jury clearly rejected his model of occasions, siding with the sufferer’s account and the prosecutor’s portrayal of maximum intoxication and incapacitation.
This case will doubtless stay a reference level in insurance policies and coaching round consent, notably in litigation involving alcohol-impaired people. It additionally serves as a cautionary story for skilled athletes about private conduct and accountability.
As McLemore awaits sentencing, the fallout will proceed throughout the basketball world, authorized circles, and public discourse on sexual violence and accountability.
