Ex-NBA Player Rashid Byrd Sentenced to 90 Years for Sexual Assaults
In 2019, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Assault Section began investigating former NBA player Rashid Byrd for sexual assault. Their investigation uncovered a 2010 conviction and a 2005 arrest for assaulting a woman in Washington State.
Victims Detail Assaults by Byrd
Victims reported that Byrd initially used his charm and status to manipulate them before committing violent sexual assaults. Detective Dara Brown, leading the investigation, highlighted the shift from Byrd’s initial charisma to his perpetration of rapes and violence.
Arrest, Bail, and Sentencing of Byrd
Authorities arrested Byrd on September 18, 2020, setting his bail at $4,150,000. He remained in custody until his trial, where the court found him guilty of multiple violent sexual assaults across Los Angeles and Santa Clara Counties from 2015 to 2020. On March 1, 2024, the court sentenced Rashid Byrd to 90 years to life in state prison.
The LAPD expressed gratitude to the women who came forward with their stories, acknowledging their role in Byrd’s conviction. Detective Brown emphasized the investigation’s length and its outcome, ensuring Byrd’s removal from the public sphere.
Legal Implications of Byrd’s Conviction
While specific penal codes were not mentioned, sexual assault charges in California, such as PC 261 (rape), PC 262 (spousal rape), and PC 264.1 (rape in concert), carry significant penalties. Byrd’s case, involving repeated and violent offenses, resulted in a lengthy prison sentence, reflecting the legal system’s stance on sexual violence.
