Teens give graphic testimony at Ohio rape trial

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Two teenage boys gave graphic testimony Friday about the alleged sexual assault of a drunken 16-year-old girl after a party in eastern Ohio last summer.

Mark Cole, 17, and Evan Westlake, 18, said they were eyewitnesses to the alleged assault. The boys were granted immunity in exchange for their testimony supporting the prosecution's charges that 17-year-old Trent Mays and 16-year-old Ma'Lik Richmond digitally penetrated the intoxicated girl in the back of a car and later in the basement of a house.

The two witnesses are key to the prosecution's case, because the alleged victim does not remember what took place early the morning of Aug. 12.

Both Mays and Richmond maintain their innocence. If convicted, they could be held in a juvenile jail until they turn 21.

The case has riveted the small city of Steubenville and drawn nation media attention amid allegations that more students should have been charged and questions about the influence of the high school football team.

Cole, a high school senior, testified he used his phone to record Mays as Mays penetrated the girl with his fingers. Cole said he deleted the video later that morning.

"It was one of those moments when you realize you did something stupid and wrong that night, so I deleted it," Cole replied when the prosecutor asked why he had erased the video.

Cole, who said he drank eight to 10 beers in two hours that night, said the group then went to his house. There, Mays attempted to force the girl to perform oral sex in the basement, but stopped when she didn't respond, Cole said. At that time she was on her side and had just vomited, Cole testified, according to WKYC Cleveland.

Upon cross examination, defense attorney Walter Madison suggested that the alleged victim was acting the same as anyone else the night of the party, where all had engaged in heavy drinking.

Madison also suggested Cole's memory of the events had been influenced by the attention the case had generated, and Cole agreed.

Westlake, the second witness, was driving when the alleged assault occurred in the backseat of the car. He testified he heard Mays laugh and then say to Cole, "get this."

Both Mays and Richmond assaulted the girl in the basement of Cole's house, Westake testified.

"Was she moving?" special prosecutor Marianne Hemmeter asked.

"Not at this time," Westlake said.

"Was she talking?" Hemmeter asked.

"I didn't hear anything," Westlake said.

Westlake also testified he saw the alleged victim cuddling, hugging and kissing Mays in the back seat of Cole's car.

When asked why he didn't try to stop the alleged assault Westlake said, "It wasn't violent. I didn't know what rape was. I pictured it as forcing yourself on someone," he said.

Contributing: WKYC Cleveland, Associated Press