Ben McLemore Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Assault
A judge has sentenced Ben McLemore to more than eight years in an Oregon state prison. The sentence comes after the former NBA player was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman at a party in Lake Oswego in 2021. The Clackamas County Circuit Court jury found McLemore, 32, who hasn’t played in the NBA since 2022, guilty last week of one count of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and one count of second-degree sexual abuse. The jury did not convict McLemore of an additional count of second-degree sexual abuse. McLemore, sentenced to 100 months in state prison, had pleaded not guilty to the four charges. The former player did not address the court and was wearing the Clackamas County jail uniform.The charges stem from a report of sexual assault that occurred in Lake Oswego on October 3, 2021, at the home of Robert Covington, then McLemore’s teammate on the Portland Trail Blazers. Police initiated an investigation, identifying McLemore as a suspect. In February 2024, a Clackamas County grand jury heard evidence in the case, including the testimony of the woman who claimed to have been assaulted by McLemore, and issued an indictment against him, as well as an arrest warrant. U.S. Marshals arrested McLemore two months later. McLemore issued a statement in which he took responsibility for his actions. “I strive to live with kindness, be gentle, and be present 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 I will work every day to earn mine.” In a later statement, McLemore expressed his “surprise and disappointment” at the verdict. “As I testified, I never believed I was having sex without full consent.” McLemore’s lawyer, Kristen Winemiller, stated that they hope the Oregon Legislature will adopt a “second look” process to assess whether he should serve the entire 100-month sentence. Healy explained to the jury that the woman, after having drunk excessively, passed out on a sofa around 2 a.m., partially regaining consciousness in the morning when McLemore sexually penetrated her with his fingers and then began to have sexual relations with her. McLemore’s lawyers disputed the victim’s version, arguing that she initiated sexual contact and consented. They also claimed that the woman was sober enough to consent, even though both she and McLemore were intoxicated. The victim appeared by video and read a statement. “This has been the longest period of almost four years of my life. I never imagined that reporting this in 2021 would lead to such an incredibly difficult and long journey,” said the victim. “These last few years have often felt like a weight I’ve had to drag, a constant reminder of the trauma I haven’t been able to fully overcome because there was no end in sight. Now I understand, on a deep level, why so many victims hesitate or never report what happened to them.” McLemore was the seventh pick in the 2013 draft from Kansas and played for five teams in nine NBA seasons. After playing for the Trail Blazers, McLemore began playing abroad for professional teams in China, Greece, and Spain.Many people often fear reporting this type of conduct for various reasons. The strength and courage of the victim in this case will hopefully give others the strength to come forward in circumstances where sexual assault has occurred.
Scott Healy, Senior Deputy District Attorney for Clackamas County
