Worthy Miffed About Mateen Cleaves' 'Back Door Arraignment' In Sex Assault Case

DETROIT (WWJ) - While Mateen Cleaves is free bond, the Wayne County Prosecutor is fuming following the former Michigan State University basketball star's arraignment on rape charges Wednesday morning.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says her officer was informed  — with short notice — that instead of arraigning Cleaves Thursday, as previously scheduled, Flint's 67th District Court Judge M. Kathy Dowd allowed Cleaves to be arraigned a day early.

In a scathing statement, Worthy stressed her disappointment in how things were handled.

"I don't know how they do things in Genesee County but we try our best to be as transparent as possible when my office is involved. There was an agreement with all of the parties that the defendant would turn himself in and be arraigned in open court‎ tomorrow - not for him to have a back door arraignment. The public has a right to know and frankly, I am extremely disappointed that this was handled so clandestinely today. I hope this is not a precursor of things to come.

Cleaves allegedly took a 24-year-old Flint-area woman to a motel last fall where he sexual assaulted her.

He is charged with Unlawful Imprisonment (15-year maximum penalty), Assault with Intent to Commit Criminal Sexual Penetration (10 year maximum penalty), Criminal Sexual Conduct Second Degree (15-year maximum penalty) and two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct Third Degree (15-years maximum penalty).

The 39-year-old posted a $150,000 personal bond and will be back in court for a probable cause hearing on Tuesday, March 29 at 8:30 a.m.

After 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 and spent parts of six seasons in the NBA.