First Adult Charged In The Steubenville Rape Case

Months after two teenagers were found guilty in the Steubenville, Ohio, rape case, prosecutors accused the head of technology for Steubenville City Schools of tampering with evidence.

NPR member station WKSU's M.L. Schultze sent this report to our Newscast unit:

"William Rhinaman is the first adult facing charges in the case in which two high school football players were convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl during alcohol-fueled parties.

"The special grand jury's indictment provides few details about what Rhinaman is accused of doing. But it does say he started tampering with evidence on Aug. 11, 2012. That's the night of the parties and the point at which texts, cell-phone images and other accounts of the rape first surfaced — then quickly disappeared.

"The indictment alleges Rhinamen's obstruction of justice continued through this week, and that he committed perjury when the grand jury met July 8.

"The grand jury has been trying to determine if adults covered up the rape to protect the football team in this Ohio River town where the high school football program and coach are legend.

"Rhinaman has been the district's technology director since 2006, and has been with the district since 1985, except for four years when he worked for Jefferson County."

Before the indictment was made public, Rhinaman was arrested on Monday. His arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court.