Mateen Cleaves Due In Court As Testimony Begins In Sexual Assault Case

DETROIT (WWJ) - A hearing begins Tuesday to determine if former Detroit Piston and Michigan State basketball player Mateen Cleaves will stand trial on rape charges.

The 39-year old Cleaves is accused of raping a Mt. Morris woman after a charity golf outing in September 2015. Court proceedings are expected to last three days.

Prosecutors allege Cleaves offered the woman a ride and then took her to a motel near Grand Blanc, held her against her will and sexually assaulted her. Prosecutors say police officers drove Cleaves to his home after responding to the reported assault at a Flint-area motel, leaving the victim to fend for herself.

Cleaves, who is out on a $150,000 bond, has denied any wrongdoing, saying he and the woman had consensual sex. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Charges against Cleaves include unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Wayne County prosecutors are handling the case after Genesee County's prosecutor did not take it due to a possible conflict of interest.

Cleaves led Michigan State to the NCAA basketball championship in 2000, winning the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player award. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 14th overall pick and appeared in 167 games for four NBA teams.