Steubenville high school rape convict released from custody

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - Trent Mays, one of two Steubenville, Ohio high school football players convicted of raping a West Virginia girl following an alcohol-fueled party, has been released from juvenile detention.

Mays, 18, was released Tuesday after serving nearly two years. He will be put on probationary status and will have a sex offender classification hearing, defense attorney Adam Neeman told WTOV-TV.

"He is an extremely promising young man, eager to prove himself on behalf of his family and his community," Nemann said in a statement.

Mays and one of his Steubenville High School teammates, Ma'Lik Richmond, were each found delinquent - the juvenile court equivalent of guilty - in the 2012 rape of the 16-year-old girl. Mays was also found delinquent of using his phone to take a photo of the nude victim.

Richmond, also 18, received a one-year sentence and rejoined the football team last fall. Richmond had been ordered to register his address every six months for the next 20 years. But in November, the judge agreed to reclassify him so that he has to register only once a year for the next decade.

A statement from the girl's family and their attorney says they hope Mays and Richmond realize the pain they caused and maintain a higher moral standard in the future.

The case drew international attention because of the role of social media publicizing the assault, and initial allegations of a cover-up by local authorities and frustration that more football players weren't charged, including some who witnessed the assaults.

A grand jury investigating whether other laws were broken in the case brought charges against six adults, including Steubenville superintendent Michael McVey.

McVey has pleaded not guilty to charges including felony counts of tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. His trial is scheduled to begin Monday.

William Rhinaman, the Steubenville schools' former technology director, has also pleaded not guilty to charges including tampering with evidence and obstructing justice.

Charges against the other four adults have been resolved.