Portland, OR: The authorities in Oregon have arrested a former NBA player Ben McLemore on charges of sexual assault.
The player was charged with first-degree rape and was arrested at Portland International Airport on Tuesday.
McLemore, who appeared in 64 games with the Portland Trail Blazers two seasons ago, was arrested and booked into the Clackamas County Jail. But the arrest was made by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
McLemore had an outstanding warrant in Clackamas County. He was arraigned in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon. Two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and first-degree unlawful sexual penetration are among the accusations against him.
As per a statement issued by the Lake Oswego Police Department, the assault happened on October 3, 2021. A woman identified McLemore as the suspect after coming forward to report that she had been sexually assaulted at a residence in an affluent Lake Oswego neighborhood. The crime was reported the same day by her.
Detectives launched an extensive investigation after allegedly gathering evidence and connecting the victim with McLemore’s advocate, as stated by the police. Police stated that McLemore traveled frequently abroad to play basketball in other countries and this caused “delays in the investigation.”
In February of this year, a grand jury in Clackamas County heard evidence in the case, including the survivor’s testimony, and issued a sealed indictment and arrest warrant for McLemore. Tuesday, McLemore was apprehended by U.S. Marshals at the Portland International Airport as per Oregon Live.
During his nine seasons in the NBA, McLemore averaged 9.0 points per game in 556 contests. McLemore appeared in 64 games for the Blazers in 2021–2022, averaging 10.2 points in 20.1 minutes per contest.
McLemore pursued a career in international professional basketball following the 2021-22 season, signing contracts with clubs in China, Greece, and Spain, most notably Río Breogán of Liga ACB in Spain.