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Ex-Spartans Star Mateen Cleaves Charged With Sex Assault

GENESEE COUNTY (CBS Detroit) -- Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Mateen Cleaves, 39, in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a 24-year-old Michigan woman.

According to prosecutors, on Sept. 14, 2015, Cleaves, of Grand Blanc, was at a charity golf outing where he was introduced to the complainant, her boyfriend and several co-workers. After the outing, Cleaves and the group went a local bar where they had drinks.

On September 15, 2016, at approximately 1 a.m., they all left the bar. The complainant's boyfriend gave a friend a ride home.

The victim, thinking they would return to the golf club, rode with Cleaves in his car, prosecutors said. It is alleged that Cleaves took the victim to a motel in the 2400 block of West Grand Blanc, in Mundy Township, held her in a room against her will, and sexually assaulted her.

The complainant was able to escape from the room and received assistance from a woman in a nearby room. The case was investigated by the Mundy Township Police Department.

Further information about the case will be presented in court at the preliminary examination, prosecutors said. Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Lisa Lindsey will prosecute the case in Genesee County.

Cleaves played under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, which included winning the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player award when the Spartans won a National Title in 2000.

Cleaves was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 14th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft and spent parts of six seasons in the NBA.

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