Andrew Welsh-Huggins writer of The Associated Press reported today that, “Two members of the high school football team that is the pride of Steubenville, Ohio were found guilty Sunday of raping a drunken 16-year-old girl in a case that bitterly divided the Rust Belt city and led to accusations of a cover-up to protect the community's athletes.”
“Steubenville High School students Trent Mays and Ma'Lik Richmond were sentenced to at least a year in juvenile jail, capping a case that came to light via a barrage of morning-after text messages, social media posts and online photos and video. Mays was sentenced to an additional year in jail on a charge of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, to be served after his rape sentence is completed. Mays is 16 and Richmond 17.” http://entertainment.verizon.com/news/read.php?ps=1010&rip_id=%3CDA52SVU...
According to philly.com, "The victim testified she could not recall what happened but woke up naked in a strange house after drinking at a party."
"It was really scary," she said. "I honestly did not know what to think because I could not remember anything."
She said she believed she was assaulted when she later read text messages among friends and saw a photo of herself naked, along with a video that made fun of her and the alleged attack.
Three other boys, two of them on the football team, saw something happening that night and didn't try to stop it but instead recorded it with their cellphones. Granted immunity to testify, they confirmed the girl was assaulted and said she was so drunk she didn't seem to know what was happening.
Evidence at the trial also included sexually explicit text messages sent by numerous students after the party. Lawyers noted how texts have seemed to replace talking on the phone for young people. A computer forensic expert documented hundreds of thousands of texts found on 17 phones seized during the investigation. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20130317_ap_ohioteensguil...
Richmond struggling to speak through his sobs was heard saying, "My life is over," as he collapsed in the arms of his lawyer. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20130317_ap_ohioteensguil...
Perhaps Richmond should have thought about his "life being over" before he raped that girl.
Dr. Sue
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