Ex-Basketball Star's 'Back-Door Arraignment' Irks Prosecutor

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Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Wednesday that she’s troubled by the secretive “back-door arraignment" of ex-basketball star Mateen Cleaves on charges stemming from the alleged sexual assault of a 24-year-old woman in a motel near Flint last September.

Worthy, whose office is prosecuting Cleaves after Genesee County Attorney David Leyton cited a potential conflict of interest, said she received short notice Wednesday morning that Cleaves’ arraignment had been moved up a day.

“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,” Worthy said in a statement. “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,” she said.

Related

• Mateen Cleaves, Former MSU Star, Charged with Sexual Assault

Cleaves, 39, of Grand Blanc,was originally scheduled to be arraigned in 67th District Court at 9 a.m. Thursday. He is charged with unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration, second-degree criminal sexual conduct in the second-degree, and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The charges are punishable by 10 to 15 years in prison. Flint 67th District Court Judge M. Kathy Dowd released Cleaves on a $150,000 personal bond.

The former Michigan State University basketball star and NBA player is accused of driving the woman, who he met at a charity golf outing, to a motel in Mundy Township, where he allegedly held her against her will and sexually assaulted her. The woman told investigators she was able to escape and was assisted another female guest at the motel.

The owner of the motel told the TV station that detectives reviewed the video, but wouldn’t say if it contained any evidence that will be used against Cleaves.

The ex-basketball star’s attorney, Frank Manley, told the Associated Press the charges against his client are “outrageous” and “false.”

"They have been catastrophic to Mr. Cleaves' career,” Manley said. “Where does he go to get his reputation back?"

In a statement announcing the charges Tuesday, Worthy said evidence in the case “will show that the alleged actions of this defendant were not only criminal, but arose out of a sense of entitlement sometimes found in prominent people.”

Manley told the AP that Worthy’s timing of the announcement of the charges is suspect.

Cleaves lead the MSU Spartans to a national championship in 2000 and was named the most valuable player in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament that year, and Manley claims Worthy waited until Tuesday, the day before March Madness began, to “bring special attention” to the case.

The Spartans are in a strong position to reach the Final Four this year.

"We look forward to going forward for Mr. Cleaves' who not only is someone who doesn't take advantage of people, but has used his celebrity to help thousands of people in the Flint community over many, many years," Manley told the AP.

After his career with the Spartans, Cleaves was drafted by the Detroit Pistons. During six six seasons with the NBA, Cleaves also played for the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle Supersonics.

Cleaves had worked as an analyst for “Inside College Basketball” on the CBS Sports Network.