The
football-crazed Rush Belt town of Steubenville, Trent Mays, 17 , and
Ma'lik Richmond, 16 , were found guilty of raping a drunk
16-years-old girl.
The
case attracted the bloggers and even the loosely organized hacking
group. Anonymous who questioned everything from the behavior of the
football team to the integrity of the investigation.
Mays
was also found guilty of disseminating a nude photo of a minor.
The
ruling brings an end to a trial that gained media attention for its
lurid text messages, cell phone pictures and videos, and social media
posts surrounding the sexual abuse of the girl.
The
victim was not in the courtroom when the ruling was read, but her
mother gave a statement after the judge's ruling.
"Human compassion is not taught by a teacher, a coach or a parent. It is a
God-given gift instilled in all of us," the victim's mother said
after court was adjourned. "You displayed not only a lack of
this compassion, but a lack of any moral code."
The
woman said her daughter will persevere and move on, adding that she
has pity for Mays and Richmond.
Bob Fitzsimmons, the attorney for the girl, said his client was doing
well.
"I
think she's really happy that this is over and, remember, she is a
16-year-old girl still and she's a high school student," he
said. "She just wants to get back with her normal life, as does
the family. It is a big relief to her at this point."
He
wouldn't comment when asked if the girl and her family plan to file a
civil case.
Mays
was sentenced to a minimum of two years in a juvenile correctional
facility. Richmond was sentenced to a minimum of one year, but like
Mays, he could be in detention until he is 21.
The
Department of Youth Services will rule whether the two boys will be
detained longer, Lipps said, adding it will depend on their behavior
and rehabilitation.
The
two will be required to register as sex offenders and undergo
treatment while in detention. Lipps said he would postpone a hearing
into which sexual offender registration category they will be
classified until the end of their incarceration.
Mays
and Richmond, who will be credited for the time they served before
the trial, were also ordered to stay away from the victim until they
are 21.
Richmond's
father told CNN that his son was doing OK.
"I
told Ma'lik to put all his trust in God. God will see him through
this," Nate Richmond said. "I told him that I love him,
basically. And to be strong."
In
court, Ma'lik Richmond apologized before breaking down in tears.
"I
had no intention to do anything like that," he said. "And
I'm sorry to put you guys through this."
Mays
apologized to the families involved.
"No
pictures should have been sent out, let alone been taken," he
said.
Mays
and Richmond were tried before Lipps, a visiting judge, without a
jury. The trial moved quickly -- and through the weekend -- to
accommodate the judge's schedule.
After
the convictions, DeWine said he is asking the Jefferson County Common
Pleas Court to convene a grand jury on April 15. DeWine said that
while calling a grand jury does not mean indictments will be returned
or charges filed, "this community needs assurance that no stone
has been left unturned in our search for the truth."
He
said there were 16 people who had refused to talk to investigators.
He
called the case a tragedy made even worse because the victim was
revictimized through social media.
Source:
cnn
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