© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Sex Assault Trial Starts For Former MSU Basketball Player Cleaves

Police Lights
publicdomainpictures

Former Michigan State University basketball star Mateen Cleaves is standing trial on sexual assault charges in his hometown of Flint.

Opening statements began Thursday in Genesee County Circuit Court in Flint, where Cleaves is charged with criminal sexual conduct, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct and unlawful imprisonment.

He's accused of assaulting a 24-year-old woman after a charity golf event and a visit to a Flint-area bar in 2015.

A district judge dismissed the charges in 2016, but a circuit court reinstated them on appeal.

Michigan's Court of Appeals in 2017 denied Cleaves' request to review the decision reinstating the charges. Michigan's Supreme Court declined last year to review that decision.

Cleaves led Michigan State to the NCAA basketball championship in 2000 and played for four NBA teams.

Related Content
Every WKAR News story you read is rooted in fact-based, local journalism, produced without commercial influence and available for free to everyone in mid-Michigan. No paywalls. Ever.

But this work doesn’t fund itself. With significant cuts to federal funding, public media is facing a critical moment. If you believe in journalism that serves the public interest, now is the time to act. Donate today.