LANSING, Mich. — A jury has acquitted former Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves of sexual assault and other charges.
The verdict Tuesday by the jury in Cleaves' hometown of Flint comes nearly four years after a then-24-year-old woman accused Cleaves of sexually assaulting her in a Flint area motel room.
One of Cleaves' supporters in the courtroom on Tuesday was his former MSU basketball coach, Tom Izzo.
The decision was in but not before several people took to Twitter to talk about who was there.
Rachael Denhollander, former gymnast and Larry Nassar survivor, weighed in on Izzo's presence.
She tweeted that "apparently MSU officials can make it to court in sex abuse cases - not on behalf of the victims though."
Rachael Denhollander@R_DenhollanderApparently MSU officials CAN make it to court in sex abuse cases.
Not on behalf of the victims though.
The day I gave my impact statement, MSU was in court down the street asking to dismiss our cases.
When you show up, who you show up for, matters. https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Tom-Izzo-in-courthouse-as-Mateen-Cleaves-sexual-assault-trial-reaches-end-556568831.html …
abc12.com2781:52 PM - Aug 20, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy120 people are talking about this
She went on to say "when you show up, who you show up for matters."
Cleaves is a former MSU basketball start.
He is accused of raping a woman in September of 2015.
The woman testified that she wanted to leave but that Cleaves continued to force himself upon her.
Cleaves didn't testify, but his attorney contended that the woman was in the motel room "of her own free will."
The 41-year-old Cleaves was charged with unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration and other charges.
He had faced up to 15 years in prison had he been convicted.
Cleaves led Michigan State to the NCAA basketball championship in 2000 and played for four NBA teams.
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