Mateen Cleaves was on trial in the Genessee County Circuit Court for a rape trial and he was found not guilty on all counts today by the jury.
The former guard and NCAA champion of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team faced up to 15 years in prison if he had been convicted of unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, and criminal sexual conduct.
Those in attendance said that Cleaves leaped from his seat in tears and hugged his defense attorney after the verdict was announced.
“Lifesavers,” Cleaves said of his legal team.
Here is what Cleaves had to say after the trial:
“I just thank God, I’ve been waiting for this day for four years,” Cleaves said to the crowd of supporters in attendance. “The Manley brothers are lifesavers, to save my life, the way they did.”
Cleaves also thanked his wife.
“I want to publicly apologize to her because I never should have put her in this situation,” Cleaves said. “She’s a great wife and a great mother to my kids.”
His lawyer, Frank Manley, said this of the verdict:
“The truth. The truth set Mateen Cleaves free.”
