Superintendent, 3 Others Indicted In Steubenville Rape Case
STEUBENVILLE (KDKA) –A school superintendent and three more people have been charged by a grand jury that investigated whether other laws were broken in the rape of a 16-year-old West Virginia girl last year in Ohio.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that a special grand jury has handed down additional indictments in the case Monday morning.
DeWine said Superintendent Michael McVey and three others have been indicted.
"This community has been torn apart by the actions and bad decisions not of the many, but rather of the few. They simply don't deserve to be lumped in with those few. Yet, these kids have been maligned and they've been disrespected and it's unfair and it needs to stop," DeWine said.
McVey faces the most serious charges, including obstructing justice. A principal, a strength coach and a volunteer coach also are charged. They're accused of interfering with the investigation or failing to report possible abuse of a minor.
In October, William Rhinaman, a school administrator, pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering with evidence, obstructing justice, obstructing official business and perjury.
He was released on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond.
DeWine said the charges are related to Rhinaman's job as a Steubenville City Schools' information technology employee.
NewsRadio 1020 KDKA's Adam Kirk reports from Steubenville:
Adam Kirk
A key issue before the panel has been whether adults such as coaches or school administrators knew of the rape allegation but failed to report it as required by state law.
A judge convicted two Steubenville football players with raping the girl in August 2012.
Late Monday, an emergency school board meeting was held, where officials announced that McVey, elementary school principal Lynett Gorman and wrestling coach Seth Fluharty have all been placed on administrative leave with pay, effective immediately.
Watch Ralph Iannotti's report:
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