Ben McLemore, a former NBA guard and Kansas alum, has been sentenced to more than eight years in an Oregon state prison following his conviction in Clackamas County on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and second-degree sexual abuse.
The crime occurred on October 3, 2021, at a party at the Lake Oswego residence of his then‑teammate Robert Covington from the Portland Trail Blazers.
At the sentencing hearing on July 9, a Clackamas County judge imposed a penalty of 100 months in prison, followed by over nine years of post‑prison supervision, and ordered McLemore to register as a sex offender. Prosecutors emphasized that celebrity status would not exempt him from facing legal consequences.
The jury reached its verdict after an 11-day trial and about 10 hours of deliberation. The victim, a 21-year-old woman, testified that she had passed out from heavy drinking and regained partial consciousness the following morning while McLemore sexually assaulted her. She described waking in terror as the assault occurred.
McLemore, who denied the charges and claimed the encounter was consensual, has not played in the NBA since 2022 and has appeared in international leagues including Turkey, Spain, Greece, and China. The sentencing came shortly after his jury conviction seven days earlier.
Under Oregon law, first-degree rape and unlawful sexual penetration carry mandatory minimum sentences of 100 months, aligning closely with McLemore’s prison term.
