Mateen Cleaves 'in the building' but doesn't show face in court for sex crime charges

FLINT, Mich. – Former Michigan State University basketball star Mateen Cleaves was “in the building” Tuesday but not in front of courtroom cameras for a hearing on sex crime charges in connection with an incident after a charity golf event near Flint.

Genesee County District Court Judge Cathy Dowd waived Cleaves appearance for the probable cause hearing.

A preliminary examination is scheduled for June 28.

Cleaves, 39, is charged with unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Cleaves met a 24-year-old woman at the event in September and is accused of keeping her against her will and sexually assaulting her. 

Prosecutors said Cleaves had drinks with the victim, her boyfriend and others at a bar. When the night was over, the woman's boyfriend gave a friend a ride home and she got in a car with Cleaves and expected to be driven back to the golf club, prosecutors said. 

Instead, she was taken to a motel against her will, prosecutors said.  After being assaulted, the woman escaped the motel room and received help from another woman staying in a different room.

Video: Officer says he was pressured to make Cleaves look guilty

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office does not want the media to show the woman’s face. Cleaves’ attorney, Frank Manely, argued that she should be shown.

“She has been able, through the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, press releases, all the media coverage, to smear Mr. Cleaves,” Manley said. “We believe in the right of confrontation, and we believe that an adult who makes these types of allegations should be able to have her face shown, should come forth, so the people can see exactly who is making the allegation.”

Assistant Prosecutor Lisa Lindsey said the woman’s claims are not a smear campaign.

“Every woman who thinks they are a victim of sexual assault should be able to come forward and make that allegation,” Lindsey said.

Dowd said she will take the matter under advisement and issue a written decision to the media about whether the woman's face can be shown.

Cleaves led Michigan State to the 2000 NCAA title and later played six seasons in the NBA.

Mateen Cleaves | PointAfter