Ex-MSU Star, Mateen Cleaves, was acquitted by jury of four sexual assault charges after CCTV footage revealed him drag his scantily-clad alleged victim back to a hotel room, while naked.
Jurors apparently deliberated for less than three hours before acquitting Cleaves of four sexual assault charges.
Cleaves’ attorney argued the CCTV footage showed the defendant protecting the alleged victim.
According to WXYZ Detroit:
The surveillance video, which was played in court but not allowed to be broadcast while the trial was ongoing, was taken outside of the Knights Inn Motel in Grand Blanc. The struggle, prosecutors say, took place between 1:30AM and 2:00AM. It was released today by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office through a public records request.
The first clip shows Cleaves’ accuser walking away from the motel partially nude, followed closely by Cleaves in pursuit. Cleaves is seen wearing only socks.
The video shows Cleaves grab the woman, who we are not identifying, spin her around and pull her back towards the room she just tried to leave. She resists, bending her knees and trying to pull away.
The video has no audio.
An eyewitness recalled the alleged victim struggling and calling for help.
Cleaves’ accuser is seen running away 13 minutes later. Cleaves was then recorded to have grabbed her arms, pulling her back into the motel room.
In an e-mailed statement, Cleaves’ attorney Frank Manley said the video was irrelevant.
“The video was presented in a Court of Law. A Jury found Mr. Cleaves Not Guilty of all charges,” Manley wrote. “The complainant had her day in Court. The criminal matter is closed. Not Guilty remains Not Guilty.”
