Former Portland Trail Blazer Ben McLemore will spend the next 100 months behind bars are he was found guilty of raping and sexually abusing a 21-year-old woman at a house party.
The incident took place in Lake Oswego in October 2021 at the home of his then-teammate, Robert Covington.
The 32-year-old athlete admitted to having sex with the victim but claimed their encounter was consensual.
“As I testified, I never believed I was having sex without full consent,” McLemore said in a statement.
Last ween he was found guilty of one charge of first-degree rape, one charge of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and one count of second-degree sexual abuse.
He was acquitted on an additional count of second-degree sexual abuse.
“At the time of the assault, I had no idea who Mr. McLemore was,” the woman told KGW. “And when I found out, I will admit there was hesitation. I questioned whether I should really move forward and report what had happened, especially given his status. But I couldn’t let it go. No one is above the law, no matter who they are or what position they hold.”
McLemore was the seventh pick in the 2013 draft out of Kansas, and until his exit from the league in 2022, he played for five teams across nine NBA seasons.