Former NBA player and Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves spoke out after being acquitted in his rape trial on Tuesday (August 20). Cleaves, 41, was facing 15 years in prison after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a Flint-area motel nearly four years ago.
Cleaves told the media, "Hearing that lie and being portrayed as an animal ... as a rapist. That the worst person you can be is a rapist. Rape is a bad thing ... but lying about rape is just as bad." He added, "I prayed every day to God that the truth would come out." Cleaves also apologized to his wife, stating, "I shouldn't have put her in this situation. She didn't deserve this."
