Former NBA veteran Ben McLemore was arrested at the Portland airport on Tuesday over allegations of first-degree rape and other sex crimes. McLemore was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Clackamas County and booked into the Clackamas County Jail. It’s unclear if he’s eligible to post bail and what the amount could be.
The Lake Oswego Police Department has claimed that McLemore committed his crimes in October 2021 when McLemore was a part of the Trail Blazers. A woman had told authorities that she had been sexually assaulted in a wealthy Lake Oswego neighborhood, naming McLemore as her assailant. The report was filed on the same day as the assault, October 3, 2021.
An expansive investigation into the same has been ongoing for the last two-and-a-half years, but it had been hampered due to NBA teams not finding him worthy enough for a contract, leading to his career shifting overseas.
A woman came forward to report that she’d been sexually assaulted at a home in a wealthy Lake Oswego neighborhood, identifying McLemore as the suspect. She reported the crime the same day.
A Clackamas County grand jury had evaluated the case after hearing evidence in February 2024 and issued a secret indictment against the former NBA player, along with an arrest warrant. This process included listening to testimony from the survivor. U.S. Marshals arrested McLemore at the Portland International Airport on Tuesday as he prepares to use his considerable resources to secure his freedom.
McLemore has been charged with first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. If convicted, he could face a minimum of eight years and four months in prison.
McLemore made it into the NBA as part of the 2013 Draft, being selected with the 7th overall pick. He wouldn’t live up to his draft status, quickly becoming a journeyman and playing for franchises like the Kings, Grizzlies, Rockets, Lakers, and Trail Blazers. He averaged 9.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in nine seasons, with no major contribution to NBA history.
He was last playing in Spain, but his legal troubles will likely complicate the career of the 31-year-old, spelling its end if he’s proven to be guilty.
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