Former NBA player and actor Rashid Byrd was on Friday sentenced to 90 years to life in prison for committing multiple sexual assaults that authorities labeled as violent. According to KTLA, the Los Angeles Police Department in a statement said Byrd sexually assaulted his victims between 2015 and 2020, adding that they occurred in Los Angeles and Santa Clara Counties.
Authorities in the statement said that an investigation into Byrd’s actions was initiated after a victim came forward and accused the convicted 42-year-old man of sexual assault.
“During their investigation, detectives learned [that] in 2010, Byrd was convicted of sexual assault involving a different victim,” the LAPD said in the statement. “Detectives also discovered that Byrd had been arrested for sexually assaulting a young woman in Washington State in 2005.”
Byrd’s victims informed authorities that though he initially came across as a “charming” person, he “subsequently forced them into a variety of sex acts.” “He started as a charmer, playing up his status as an athlete and pseudo-celebrity, but that quickly faded into rapes and violence,” the lead investigator in the case, Detective Dara Brown, said.
Authorities ultimately arrested Byrd on September 18, 2020, on suspicion of sexual assault. His bail was set at $4,150,000 and he has since remained in custody, authorities said. He was ultimately found guilty of the sexual assault crimes on Friday.
“The LAPD is grateful for the brave women who came forward to tell their stories,” Brown said. “While this investigation has gone on for years, we are thankful that Byrd is no longer on the streets.”
Brown also entreated anyone with information about Byrd’s crimes to get in touch with her. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings initially signed Byrd, but he did not feature in any NBA match for the two franchises.
Besides playing in Europe, Byrd also had stints with NBA D-League teams including the Los Angeles D-Fenders (now known as the South Bay Lakers) and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, which is affiliated with the Houston Rockets.
Byrd, also an actor, featured in movies including Semi-Pro and Bring Your ‘A’ Game.
