School Official Arrested in Apparent Cover Up of Steubenville Rape Case

William Rhinaman is accused of obstructing justice

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An Ohio school official was jailed without bail on Monday in connection with a rape case in rural Ohio that made national headlines.

Steubenville High School’s director of technology, William Rhinaman, 53, is facing counts of obstructing justice, evidence tampering, obstructing official business and perjury linked to the case of two high school football players who were convicted in the rape of a fellow student, CNN reports.

It’s unclear exactly what evidence Rhinaman is accused of tampering with, but Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said the arrest is only the first part of an ongoing grand jury investigation.

Ma’lik Richmond and Trenton Mays, tried as juveniles, were found guilty of rape in March, in a case that galvanized the nation because of how word of their exploits — making videos of themselves abusing their intoxicated victim in 2012 — spread like wildfire on social media and in real time. Richmond was sentenced to one year in a juvenile correctional facility, and Mays, who was also convicted of disseminating a nude photo of a minor, was sentenced to two years.

Rhinaman would face four years if convicted of the charges he faces. His lawyer didn’t comment Monday.

[CNN]