Ex-Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves has been arraigned Wednesday morning, over sexual assault charges. The American former professional basketball player was accused by a woman, claiming he assaulted her on a motel and keep her against her will.
Mateen Cleaves, who was charged on Tuesday, faces multiple counts of charges, according to Detroit Free Press. Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said, Cleaves has been arraigned Wednesday morning in Flint courthouse, instead of the original schedule Thursday. He was arraigned before Judge M. Cathy Dowd and was released on a $150,000 personal bond.
The 38 year old former professional basketball is charged with criminal sexual conduct, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration and unlawful imprisonment, ESPN reported. However, his defense lawyer denied the allegations, calling it outrageous.
The 24 year old woman said, she, her boyfriend and fellow workers met the basketball star on a charity golf outing event in September, according to prosecutor Kym Worthy's office on Tuesday. She accused him of taking her to a Mundy Township motel on September 14 and claimed she was forcibly detained on the motel where she was also sexually assaulted. The woman said, she was able to escape and was helped by a woman staying on another room.
On Wednesday arraignment, prosecutor Kym Worthy protested the sudden reschedule of the arraignment, which was originally set Thursday."There was an agreement with all of the parties that the defendant would turn himself in and be arraigned in open court (Thursday), not for him to have a back door arraignment," Worthy said, ABC News quoted. Cameras were banned inside the courtroom.
The case has been transferred to Wayne County prosecutor due to a possible conflict of interest by Genesee County prosecutors and a potential witness. Mateen Cleaves became a household name when he led the Spartans in 2000 to the NCAA championship. He was selected by the Detroit Pistons and later played in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
