**Former NBA Player Ben McLemore Found Guilty of Rape in Oregon**
A jury in Clackamas County, Oregon, has convicted former NBA guard Ben McLemore of rape following an 11-day trial. The 32-year-old ex-Portland Trail Blazers player was found guilty of raping a woman in 2021. Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, McLemore 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. However, the jury acquitted him of an additional charge of second-degree sexual abuse.
Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth emphasized the commitment to prosecuting criminal acts regardless of the offender’s status, stating, “This case demonstrates my office prosecutes criminal acts regardless of the offender’s community status.”
The incident took place in Lake Oswego, Oregon, in October 2021, when authorities identified McLemore as a suspect following the woman’s complaint. A grand jury reviewed evidence in February 2024, including the victim’s testimony, which detailed the assault. McLemore was arrested two months later by U.S. Marshals.
During the trial, prosecutor Scott Healy presented evidence that the victim had passed out on a couch after consuming alcohol and regained partial consciousness the next morning when McLemore sexually assaulted her. McLemore’s defense team argued that the woman had initiated the sexual contact and was sober enough to consent.
McLemore, a Kansas native, had a nine-season career in the NBA, playing for teams including the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021-22 season.
**FAQ**
**What were the charges against Ben McLemore?**
Ben McLemore was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and second-degree sexual abuse, of which he was found guilty on three counts.
