Ohio school rape trial closing, verdict Sunday

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (AP) - The accuser in the rape trial of two Ohio high school football players testified Saturday as the trial neared an end that she recalled drinking at a party last summer but could not remember what had happened when she awoke the next day naked in a strange house.

Testimony in the four-day nonjury trial against Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond ended after the judge heard from the 16-old West Virginia girl and others in the juvenile court case. Judge Thomas Lipps said he would announce a decision Sunday.

If found delinquent - the juvenile court equivalent of guilty - the two defendants could be held in juvenile jail until they turn 21, when they would be released.

Mays, 17, and Richmond, 16, are charged with digitally penetrating the girl, first in a car and then in the basement of a house, while out partying Aug. 12. Mays also is charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material. They maintain their innocence.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130317/DA52IKAO0.html

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Trent Mays, 17, left, talks with one of his defense lawyers, Brian Duncan before the start for the fourth day of his and co-defendant 16-year-old Ma'lik Richmond's trial on rape charges in juvenile court on Saturday, March 16, 2013 in Steubenville, Ohio. Mays and Richmond are accused of raping a 16-year-old West Virginia girl in August, 2012. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, Pool)

[alp227]

1. NYT has more detail

Accuser Testifies in Ohio Rape Case; Verdict Expected

The girl testified Saturday that after leaving a party around midnight on Aug. 11 with the two football players, she woke up the next morning in the basement living room of another house. She was naked, she recalled, with no idea how she got there or where she was, and Mr. Mays, Mr. Richmond and another boy were surrounding her. The girl said that the boys put her clothes on a table, but she could not find her phone, her underwear, her earrings or her shoes.

“I was embarrassed and scared, and I did not know what to think because I could not remember anything,” she testified. She said that over the next two days she pieced together what had happened with the help of friends who showed her a video posted on YouTube and a picture that had circulated of her in the basement lying naked.

Earlier on Saturday, two former friends of the girl testified for the defense that she had a reputation as a liar. An expert defense witness also testified that the girl was not likely to have consumed enough alcohol to pass out that night but that she did drink enough to have a memory lapse, implying she could have consented to having sex but did not remember doing so.

OK what kind of "friends" would do such a thing??? Really????? Taking your high school drama UNDER OATH?? GRRRRR

also

At one point, Mr. Mays, who maintained that he had taken care of the girl while she was drunk, appeared to grow increasingly frustrated that she refused to reassure him. He told her in a text message, “I’ll just never do anything nice for you again.”

Later, in the final series of text messages they ever exchanged, Mr. Mays told her, “I’m about to get kicked off my football team.”

The girl replied: “The more you bring up football, the more pissed I get, because that’s like all you care about.”

[GeoWilliam750]

2. How can this be right?

"If found delinquent - the juvenile court equivalent of guilty - the two defendants could be held in juvenile jail until they turn 21, when they would be released."

That is one sick town.

[davidpdx]

3. I believe it would be up to the Ohio law they were charged under

Both are being tried as minors. How that was decided I don't know and wouldn't even speculate. I certainly don't agree with it though.

[davidpdx]

4. I think they will be aquitted

and this whole thing will get swept under the rug until it happens again. As I've said all along, I believe there were many more involved in this then the two on trial.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. I will be deeply surprised if this case ends in anything other than convictions.

Looks like we'll find out in the morning.

[davidpdx]

9. Yep, we will

I guess since the trial is decided by the judge rather than a jury that could make some difference. I am skeptical that anyone will be held accountable for what happened.

[Arcanetrance]

13. Even if found guilty they are being charged under the juvenile system so they're guaranteed release

At 21 not really much of a punishment for the crime.

[davidpdx]

14. Yes, I know that

plus you can bet if they are convicted there will be a lengthy appeals process in which they'll be released.

[ReRe]

5. 10AM Sunday (today) the judge will announce his verdict

I'll be watching TV and the NYTimes to see what the judge decides. Thanks for the post, OH.

[davidpdx]

10. Thanks for posting the time, I was just going to ask someone

I'm clear over in South Korea and may stay up late just to find out. If that is EDT then I'm +13 hours.

[ReRe]

15. Definitely EDT

That's what time the NYTimes quoted the judge as saying.
Wishing you a great day in South Korea!

[caseymoz]

7. I think the judge will probably acquit.

I hope not. It sounds like those boys had a good defense lawyer who seems to have sown just enough doubt at every angle. I hope the judge doesn't buy the "she probably gave consent before she passed out" defense. That expert witness who said that should spend some time in Hell.

The judge should go by what the eyewitnesses said, and consider the concerted effort adults and juveniles made to destroy evidence, indicating that what actually happened was far worse.

PS. I didn't think there was a court in the country that worked on weekends.

[davidpdx]

11. I feel the same way

which makes me sick. After they used the "she gave consent" spiel, then they put her "friends" (and I would not want those kind of friends ever in my life) on the stand to basically trash her.

[caseymoz]

21. And hello! we're wrong!

Judge found them guilty. What do you know? There is still a trace of justice in our system. Good work, your honor.

[davidpdx]

22. I'm glad we were

The sentence was still too lenient.

[caseymoz]

23. By sentencing standards of our system, yes.

Since we do have the most brutal sentencing, I find it hard to judge what's fair. Fair by the sentences of the industrialized world?

I'm sure the two guys will miss the year of their lives, the loss of their reputations, and will suffer from a lifetime on the sex offenders' list.

Moreover, at least the judge affirmed the that the boys committed rape. In surveys, rape victims say that the worst thing about ordeal is not being believed. Now she's not so isolated and alone.

[davidpdx]

24. I agree that it is hard to know what is fair

They dodged a big bullet being tried as juveniles. In other states they would be tried as adults. If they had been tried as adults and convicted they likely would have gone to a juvenile facility for a year or two, then a state prison. At that young of an age and as a sex offender they would have been prime targets by other inmates.

The two things that stand out in this case is the fact that they defendants made the whole thing public, and then there was a massive cover-up. Then the victim was trashed in court.

As to the cover up I'm still left with wondering how many people were involved that have not been held accountable (both juveniles and adults). It sounds to me like the two defendants were not well off nor from good families (I'm not defending them, read on). Could the ones who came from better families and had the resources or connections not be facing charges for those reasons? I'm not sure.

I hope the victim is finally able to find closure with the help of counseling.

[dballance]

8. Courts Try Kids as Adults All the Time - Why Not these Men?

Last edited Sun Mar 17, 2013, 06:01 AM - Edit history (1)

Why on earth are these men not being tried as adults? Twelve year olds are tried as adults in this country. Why these men are not being tried as adults is an abomination. The court system is so stacked in favor of these "star" athletes. Being a football star seems to absolve one of any of the most repugnant behavior.

I've seen it in real life. Football "stars" are elevated to the level of gods. Even on the most losing teams they are considered gods. The abhorrent behavior of football players who do not feel they need to abide by common decency is what enabled Sandusky at Penn State. It is supported by the towns and the administrations of schools like the ones in Stuebanville. It is what enabled the horrible behavior of the Steubenville players. How many other Penn States and Stuebanvilles are there out there because the coaching staff and the administration don't dare risk possibly losing donations or support for their varsity players?

[davidpdx]

12. That is a good question

maybe someone who is more familiar with the case can answer that. I have only followed some of the coverage as I am overseas.

I'm going to be watching when the verdict comes in.

[davidn3600]

16. Probably trying to get rid of the case in a hurry

[chillfactor]

17. if these two asshats are not convicted.....

I am going to be extremely pissed! How to lawyers like the defense lawyers live with themselves?

[Buzz Clik]

18. At least we can stop talking about holding doors open for a while

This should occupy DU for about 2 weeks.

Look! Shiny!

[In_The_Wind]

20. They were convicted! Justice is served!

[happyslug]

25. Duplicate subject matter from Yesterday, and Yesterday, the 17th was when the decision was released

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014427593

Please go to the above site for more details on this case.