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Mateen Cleaves charged in alleged sexual assault

Mateen Cleaves, a former Michigan State basketball star who was the hero behind the 2000 national championship team, has been charged with an alleged sexual assault of a 24-year-old Mount Morris woman.

Cleaves, 39, of Grand Blanc, has been 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. The charges carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

The charges stem from an incident in September following a charity golf outing.

“The evidence in this case will show that the alleged actions of this defendant were not only criminal, but arose out of a sense of entitlement sometimes found in prominent people,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement.