Steubenville Rape Case: School Employee Indicted On Obstruction Of Justice Charges By Ohio Grand Jury

An Ohio grand jury indicted a Steubenville City Schools employee Monday for obstruction of justice relating to the notorious Steubenville High School rape case.

William Rhinaman, 53, was arrested Monday afternoon on charges of tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, obstruction of official business and perjury, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office announced. Rhinaman, of Mingo Junction, is set to appear in court on Wednesday.

“This is the first indictment in an ongoing grand jury investigation. Our goal remains to uncover the truth, and our investigation continues,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said in a press release.

Though Rhinaman’s arrest was announced publicly, DeWine released very few details about Rhinaman’s actions leading up to the arrest. DeWine stated that the arrest was related to his job as an information technology employee at the Steubenville schools, but did not elaborate further.

"The only thing I can say is that the grand jury investigation continues," DeWine said.

DeWine announced the 14-member grand jury’s formation on March 17, the day that two Steubenville High School football players were convicted of raping a teen girl at a boozy post-game party in August 2012. Ma'Lik Richmond and Trent Mays, both 17, were sentenced to a juvenile detention facility and registered as sex offenders.

The investigation has been plagued by rumors of a coverup claiming that coaches and school officials may have known about the rape but refused to act on it. It is possible that Rhinaman’s arrest is related to such an alleged coverup.