Ohio Police Press Public for Details on Teen Rape

Posted January 5th, 2013 at 5:25 pm (UTC-5)
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Police probing rape accusations against two teenage American football players have launched a website aimed at gaining information about an unverified video that purports to show the rape of an adolescent girl.

The site, sponsored by city officials in Steubenville, Ohio, was unveiled Saturday, just days after an online video surfaced that purportedly shows a third young male joking about the crime and the victim.

The video, which has inflamed the community and drawn national attention, appears to have been released by hackers who allege more suspects were involved in the crime who should face prosecution.

Two members of the local high school football team face trial as juveniles in the case, which is set to open February 13. It is not yet clear whether others will also face charges.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has called the video “despicable.” But he said it does not by itself provide investigators with new information.

The new police website also details a timeline of the case and a police pledge of transparency.

The New York Times last month described how the case developed and how it divided the community after the suspects were arrested. Some critics have argued the suspects should be tried as adults under statutes that impose much stiffer penalties, while others claim officials tried to minimize the case.

The local prosecutor has removed herself from the case and asked the the state to provide special state prosecutors to pursue the charges.