Outrage as school staff indicted by Steubenville rape case grand jury return to work on full pay. . . while victim, 16, still faces abuse

Board of Education votes to reinstate school employees facing felony charges linked to TWO sexual assaults

Attorney for both victims fears the truth may never come out as crucial evidence may have been destroyed



Nine months after Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond were convicted of raping her their victim and her family still face abuse from 'small percentage' of detractors

School staff indicted by a grand jury investigating the notorious Steubenville rape case and another claim from a second girl in the town have been allowed to return to work on full pay, to the shock of the victims' lawyer.

Steubenville City Schools Superintendent Mike McVey, wrestling coach Seth Fluharty and Lynnett Gorman, Principal of Pugliese Elementary School, had been placed on paid administrative leave since November 25 when Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced their indictments.

But a meeting of the Board of Education of Steubenville City has seen them reinstated in their positions pending trial – a decision described by attorney Bob Fitzsimmons as ‘surprising’ and which he admitted has left him ‘shocked.’



People made bad choices: Attorney General Mike DeWine announces the conclusion to the grand jury's investigations and bid to hold those responsible accountable

Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Fitzsimmons who represented the 16-year-old victim, raped by Ma’lik Richmond, 17, and Trent Mays, then 16, in August 2012 said: ‘I am surprised that the Board of Education put them back at this stage.

'Members of the community, of the grand jury, found that there is at least probable cause to support indictments on several felonies. I’m actually quite shocked.’

Mr McVey has been indicted on five counts: one of tampering with evidence, two counts of obstruction of justice, one of falsification and one of obstructing official business. Several of the charges he faces relate to a second ‘rape’ alleged to have taken place in April 2012.

The ‘victim’ of this alleged assault, four months earlier than the now infamous rape case, was a 14-year-old girl now also represented by Mr Fitzsimmons.

Mrs Gorman’s indictment, on the charge of failure to report child abuse or neglect when she had ‘reasonable cause to suspect’ that a child under 18 had been a victim of it, also links to a date on or about 12 April 2012.

Mr Fluharty was charged with failing to report possible child abuse in August 2012.

Accountability: Assistant coach Matt Belardine, left, has been indicted on four counts including allowing underage drinking. Superintendent Mike McVey, right, faces five charges

Family affair: Hannah Rhinaman, left, and her father William Rhinaman, right, were indicted by the grand jury earlier this year

Assistant coach Matt Belardine, in whose house one of the parties which culminated in the rape was held in August on four misdemeanors, inclduing allowing underage drinking, obstructing official business and contributing to unruliness or delinquency of a child.

Steubenville Schools IT technician William Rhinaman has been charged with tampering with evidence, obstruction and perjury. His daughter Hannah Rhinaman have also been indicted on theft and receiving stolen property charges.

Mr McVey, Mrs Gorman and Mr Fluharty were all expected to return to work on Monday December 9.

All of those charged deny the charges.

But according to Mr Fitszimmons his objection to this decision is not simply because they face criminal charges.

He said: ‘They are all innocent until proven guilty which is a wonderful thing. But it’s the nature of their charges and of their position.

Trial by social media: The messages over Twitter, Instagram and texts that were exchanged ona night of back to back parties in August 2012 and the next day were central to the original case - and to the outrage it caused nationwide

‘When Mr DeWine called the grand jury he wanted to determine responsibility and where it might lie with Steubenville City Schools among others.

‘Now the guy running it is facing felony charges and they involve horrendous allegations of abuse relating to children.’

Members of the grand jury, Mr Fitzsimmons added, ‘made a finding that there is probable cause to bring these charges. It’s a lower burden of proof than at trial but these charges don’t just come about unless there is evidence to support them.

Trent Mays, left, sits in Jefferson County Court, next to co-accused Ma'lik Richmond just hours before the two were convicted of raping the 16-year-old who regarded Mays as a friend



Ma'lik, right, shifts uncomfortably as he listens to testimony in the March trial that would end with his conviction and could see him in detention until the age of 21



Commentator and blogger Alexandria Goddard has written extensively on the Steubenville rape and the investigation which was dogged by allegations of cover up amid a scandal which overwhelmed the small industrial town earlier this year.

Her blog Prinnified.com became a powerful forum - criticized by some as a platform for speculation and incendiary rumor and lauded by others as a counter to the victim blaming and intimidation that besmirched the town of Steubenville.

She too was critical of the Board’s decision to reintstate staff at this stage. She said: ‘It’s an issue of accountability and what message this is sending out.

Torn apart: Steubenvillle, Ohio, was thrown into turmoil by the high profile rape which brought with it allegations of cover up and corruption and public protests on the steps of the court

'Yes they are innocent until proven guilty but it’s obvious in this decision that there are some people who are still reluctant to hold members of staff to account.

‘Really it’s disgusting the way some of these adults are behaving.’

Mr Fitzsimmons also voiced concern that Mr DeWine’s search for the truth may be in vain.

He pointed out: ‘There’s a lot of stuff people will maybe never know if evidence has been tampered with, removed or destroyed in line with William Rhinaman's indictment.

And while the suspended employees return to work the victim’s family continue to face harassment and intimidation nine months after the end of the trial which, they had hoped, would put the issue to rest.

He said: ‘People take sides and there’s a smaller percentage of people who are supportive of the convicted defendants. It’s incredible to me that anyone can support them.



'But there are still comments made, cruel comments to this family who have already suffered so much.



‘We can never lose sight that these two young men raped this young girl. And we can never tolerate that.’

According to Attorney General Mr DeWine: ‘This began as a rape of a 16-year-old girl – a horrible crime of violence. But it also represents blurred, stretched and distorted boundaries of right and wrong.’

He said: ‘People made bad choices and the grand jury said there are repercussion. There are consquences. And there has to be accountability.