Steubenville Teacher Arrested, Linked to Rape Case From 2012

An Ohio technology teacher was arrested Monday in connection with the case in which two Steubenville High School football players were convicted earlier this year of raping an unconscious 16-year-old girl in August 2012.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that William Rhinaman, 53, director of technology at Steubenville High School, was taken into custody on counts of tampering with evidence, obstructing justice, obstructing official business and perjury in connection with the case, according to CNN. 

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If Rhinaman is convicted, he could be sentenced to up to four years in prison, more time than the two convicted teens will serve.

A grand jury indictment against Rhinaman was made public Friday, the first in an ongoing investigation of other laws broken in the Steubenville rape case.

Football players Ma'lik Richmond and Trenton Mays were convicted of rape in March. Mays also was found guilty of disseminating a nude photo of a minor. Authorities accused Richmond and Mays, who were respectively 16 and 17 at the time, of raping a girl during a party in August 2012.

Photos, video and texts about the victim sparked outrage around the country, leading to questions about the behavior of the football team to the integrity of the investigation.

"The only thing I can say is that the grand jury investigation continues," DeWine told the Columbus Dispatch, hinting that more indictments could follow.

The same day Richmond and Mays were convicted, DeWine said he would impanel a grand jury to further investigate the case.

Rhinaman is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday, according to the.

Stephen Lamatrice, Rhinaman's attorney, said his client is innocent of any charges related to the case.

"Our position is, he did nothing wrong," Lamatrice told The Dispatch.

A cover-up has long been associated with the case, as the grand jury looks into whether adults like coaches and school administrators knew of the rape but failed to report it.

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