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Attorney for Mateen Cleaves wants to put Prosecutor Kym Worthy on witness stand in rape case

Posted at 4:01 PM, Jul 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-28 22:41:52-04

7 Action News has learned the defense attorney in the Mateen Cleaves rape case wants to question Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on the witness stand.

This would be a very rare move in a criminal case.

Last month defense attorney Frank Manley filed a motion to recuse Worthy on the grounds that the 24-year-old alleged rape victim had previously worked as a member of the Wayne County Sexual Abuse Task Force. 

Manley wants Prosecutor Worthy and others in her office to be called as witnesses to discuss a possible conflict of interest.

The issue is before Genesee County District Judge Cathy Dowd.

Cleaves a former basketball star at Michigan State University and recently a sports broadcaster, is charged with unlawful imprisonment and criminal sexual conduct with the woman at a Genesee County motel last September.

Late this afternoon, a spokesperson for the prosecutor tells us, they’ve gotten no documentation that the alleged victim worked in any capacity in any Wayne County office.

If the judge grants this motion, a hearing would be scheduled at a later date for this unusual testimony.