Ohio H.S Playoff Game Ends in Brawl

((ht: dispatch.com))

Uh, this is never good.

The ending to Friday night's Steubenville vs. Beechcroft playoff football game in Zanesville, Ohio did not end well.

Stubenville had just pulled the upset, beating top ranked Beechcroft 29-21 in the regional finals when both teams ran out onto the field for the traditional "post-game handshake".

Only that handshake erupted into a end-to-end brawl between the two teams that required police to step in and help separate the teams.

Supposedly, the incident began on one of the last plays of the game when Big Red QB Dmitiri Collaros took a knee and was plowed into by Beechcroft's Takeyvon Simmons. That happened with just over a minute to go and after some pushing and shoving, both teams finished the last play.

It was the handshake that reset the hostilities.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, nobody was hurt nor arrested. The coaches for both teams declined to talk about the incident.

It's still too early to determine what the Ohio High School Athletic Association will do after the incident.

Here's your video from the Dispatch, who covered the game:

OSG High: Richmond Returns For Steubenville Football

((HT: WTOV-TV))

If the name Ma'Lik Richmond sounds familiar, it's because he and teammate Trent Mays were convicted as juveniles in the Steubenville High rape case that involved the football team two years ago.

Richmond was sentenced to a year for the charge, served 9 months, is now on probation, and has to register as a sex offender very six months until he turns 38 years old.

Steubenville head coach Rene Sacoccia says he believes in second chances and is putting Richmond out onto the football field in the preseason.

Here's the look at Richmond's reappearance...


Mays, for the record, is serving a 2-year sentence in juvenile detention and is scheduled to be released in January.

4 More Charged In Steubenville Rape Case

((HT: WTRF-TV))

The Steubenville High rape case continues to gather depth as four more individuals have been arrested in association with the case where Steubenville football players recorded a rape a 16-year-old on their camera phones, shuttled it around on social media, and were part of a conspiracy to make sure no charges were filed in and around the football team.

Two players, Ma'Lik Richmond and Trent Mays, were convicted in the case and now four more individuals are up on charges after a grand jury investigation. Richmond was convicted of rape and sentenced to a year as a juvenile. Mays was convicted of rape and of using his phone to take a picture of the girl.

He was sentenced to two years in juvenile detention.

A special grand jury had investigated whether coaches and/or school administrators knew of the rape allegation, but failed to report that they knew- and exactly just how much they knew.

Here's the initial results brought forth...

Steubenville City Schools Superintendent Michael McVey has been indicted on five counts:

One count of tampering with evidence - a third degree felony
Two Counts of obstructing justice - a fifth degree felony
One count of falsification, a first degree misdemeanor
One count of obstructing official business, a second degree misdemeanor

McVey could face up to 7 years and 270 days in prison.

The second person is Lynnett Gorman- the principal of West Elementary in Steubenville- was charged with failure to report child abuse, a fourth degree misdemeanor. Gorman could face up to 30 days in jail.

The third is Seth Fluharty- wrestling coach and special education teacher at Steubenville High. He was also charged with failure to report child abuse. Fluharty could serve up to the same 30 day sentence.

The fourth is Matthew Bellardine, a former volunteer coach for the football team, who faces four charges including:

Underage persons offenses concerning ("beer or intoxicating liquor") - a first degree misdemeanor
Obstructing Official Business - a second degree misdemeanor
Falsification - a first degree misdemeanor
Contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child - a first degree misdemeanor

Bellardine could serve up to 1 year and 265 days in jail.

Here's the press conference in full with Ohio AG Mike DeWine
WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Here's the press release on the findings of the grand jury...

OSG High: Steubenville Football Player Must Register As Tier 2 Sex Offender

((HT: WTRF-TV

One of the two Steubenville (OH) High School football players convicted in the rape of a fellow student has to register as a Tier II sex offender.

Ma'Lik Richmond was back in court where he now joins Trent Mays in that stauts. The victim's family, as well as Mays' and Richmond's families were all in court for the hearing.

According to the Ohio Bar Association, a Tier 2 offender "includes those who have been convicted of offenses such as gross sexual imposition with a victim under 13 years old, pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor when the offender is four or more years older than the victim. Adult offenders must register every 180 days for 25 years; juvenile offenders must register for 20 years."

The defense had asked for Richmond's sex offender registration to end after age 21- pointing to his lack of a criminal record before his prosecution.

The state said that it was mandatory that Richmond receive some type of label and asked that Richmond receive same treatment and same classification as Trent Mays.

Here's the story form the courtroom...
WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Here's the story where Mays was given a Tier II status...

Serena Goes In Reverse Over Steubenville Comments

Of course, she does...

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine and Stephen Rodrick, Serena Williams had the audacity to say the following when it came to the victim in the Steubenville High School rape case:

From Deadspin:

"We watch the news for a while, and the infamous Steubenville rape case flashes on the TV—two high school football players raped a 16-year-old, while other students watched and texted details of the crime. Serena just shakes her head. "Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know. I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you—don't take drinks from other people. She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember? It could have been much worse. She's lucky. Obviously I don't know, maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different."

The HQ just has to say, "Really...???"
"Really..."

Yup... really...

We have no earthly idea what Serena was thinking about the whole thing, unless it was something having to do with this display when the verdicts came down...
((HT: CNN))


And if she was in the same boat of thought, all the HQ can do is shake its collective head...

So, of course, now Serena has slammed the gear shift into reverse... over something she "supposedly said..."

Through her Twitter:

“What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved – that of the rape victim and of the accused. I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written – what I supposedly said – is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.

I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields – anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen year old child.”

The WTA has come out with a statement of their own saying that if Serena said what she said, they really don't agree with her stance...

The Poynter Institute talked to Rodrick and he is standing by his interview with Serena... Saying it's on tape...

Well then, Serena it's time to return the rally... and it looks like she said it...
Oops...

OSG High: Steubenville HSFB Coach Gets Contract Extension... Really...

((HT: Salon.com, McDonough))

Katie McDonough lets us all know that Steubenville High head football coach Reno Saccoccia- for whatever he did (or "didn't do") in the rape case that involved two of his players- gets a contract extension...

In a previous Salon piece during the rape trial in Steubenville, McDonough divulged:

text messages seized from Mays’ cellphone indicate that Saccoccia had seen the video in which another student “joked” that “Trent and Ma’lik raped someone” as soon as it was released.

The day after the incident, Mays texted a friend: “I got Reno. He took care of it and shit ain’t gonna happen, even if they did take it to court. Like he was joking about it so I’m not worried,” according to an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, who testified in the rape case.

He, as a hall of fame head football coach, member of the 300-win club, and someone who dines with the local sheriff, seemed to view himself as untouchable. So, the coach knew about the incident and failed to report it to school administrators and the authorities... in an official crime-reporting capacity...

Saccoccia also failed to discipline players who ferried photos of the victim to each other- until week 9 of the regular season. But his actions may have him in front of a grand jury soon...

FOSG Christi Paul discusses on "Raising America"
((HT: HLN))

BREAKING: Steubenville FB Players Found Delinquent

The judge in the rape case involving two Steubenville, Ohio football players has found them delinquent in the case that has split the town over the last few months. This is similar to a guilty verdict in an adult court.

The two players were alleged to have gotten the accuser in the case so drunk that she could not remember what happened on the evening in question, and she reiterated as much when she took the stand yesterday.

The case was somewhat uncharacteristic in that the judge in the case, Thomas Lipps, was to decide the fate of the players.

More when we know more...

1400 UPDATE: We know more...

The attorney for the plaintiff, Bob Fitzsimmons, came on CNN to discuss and says (to no one's surprise) that his client wants her life back...

Here's Poppy Harlow with the Q-and-A

Both defendants will be spending their time associated with the Ohio Department of Youth Services for the minimum of 1 year. Trent Mays received two years in his sentences to be served consecutively. Ma'Lik Richmond will serve one year. Judge Lipps also said both can be held under DYS custody until they're 21. Mays, 17, was sentenced to an additional year in jail on a charge of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, to be served concurrently with his rape conviction.

Both Mays and Richmond, 16, have been ordered to avoid contact with the victim until they are 21.

Day 3: Steubenville- Kids Who Watched Cut A Deal

((HT: WTRF-TV))

Witnesses 16, 17, and 18 continued to exercise their Fifth Amendment rights and would not testify as to their activities the night of the alleged rape in Steubenville.

Mark Cole, Evan Westlake and Anthony Craig were then granted immunity by the judge in the case of Steubenville High football players Trent Mays and Ma'Lik Richmond. They are charged with digitally penetrating the girl August 12th, first in a car and then in the basement of a house. Mays also is charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

Cole, Westlake, and Craig were forced to read rather graphic text messages that were sent, round-robin, to their friends. If convicted, Mays and Richmond could be held in a juvenile facility until they turn 21.

Former Steubenville police detective Jean-Phillipe Rigaud testified that the accuser in the case could not remember much of the evening in question. But she did remember throwing up in the street, leaving one of the two parties of the evening, and then waking up naked the next morning.

Rigaud's testimony was echoed by the accuser Saturday when she finally made the witness stand.

Here's the Day 3 wrap...
WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Day 2 Wrap: Steubenville

((HT: WTRF-TV))
Thursday was Day 2 of the Steubenville rape trial. It ended around 9PM, and during testimony, prosecutors introduced text messages shared between witnesses, the alleged victim and the defendants.

The text messages include those from the alleged victim where she said she did not remember anything of the night of the attack and was trying to find out what happened. She said that she believed she was drugged and that others were "taking advantage of me."

One text sent by one defendant actually admit that he had sex with the victim.

Bob Fitzsimmons, the alleged victim's lawyer, said his client was supposed to testify Thursday, but some testimonies went much longer than scheduled. He also said there would be a good chance she'll testify on Day 3.

Here's the wrap...
WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

And here's the CNN version...

Day 1: Steubenville Rape Trial Underway

((HT: WTRF-TV))

Opening statements took place in the rape trial of two Ohio high school football players today. Prosecutors said the victim in the case was "treated like a toy" where they maintain she was seriously impaired, sexually abused, then was taped- and the tape eventually released to the public on social media.

Six witnesses took the stand- two police officers, two men, and two women.

According to the first witness in the case, the victim and her friends were drinking when she became increasingly intoxicated and her speech began to slur.

The group was at the first party until around 12:30 AM. The victim told witness number one that she wanted to leave with one of the defendants. The witness said she tried to get someone to help convince her to stay, but the victim left with the defendants.

The witness said she then started seeing posts on social media about the victim. She tried to call her, but the phone went to voice mail. The next morning, witness number one was called by a friend to pick up the victim who "looked like a mess."

Here's your wrap
WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

A blanket was also presented into evidence that, the prosecution says, contained DNA of both the victim and one of the defendants.

The trial has, naturally, split the town of Steubenville and there are those who fall on both sides of the trial. The two students are being tried by Judge Thomas Lipps as juveniles. Judge Lipps has denied a change of venue and both defense attorneys withdrew their motions for dismissal of the case before an anticipated three days of testimony.

OSG High: Occupy Steubenville Protest Exceeds Numbers

((HT: WTRF-TV Steubenville, Ohio))

The second "Occupy Steubenville" protest and rally brought more numbers than the organizers thought it would. As a result, a lot of the communication had to be done via loud speakers... and that included a Q-and-A session with Jefferson County (OH) Sheriff Fred Abdalla.

Abdalla wanted to clear up some perceived misconceptions about the idea the sheriff's department wasn't pursuing prosecution as vigorously as they should...

Here's the story from the protest...
WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Steubenville High School Head Football Coach Reno Saccoccia released a statement Friday regarding CNN's coverage of the rape case and, apparently, CNN's supposed refusal to conduct a live interview with him to discuss his perspective on the rape case:

"After last night's inaccurate report on CNN's Anderson Cooper Show regarding recent events, through a representative I offered to do a live interview with them from my home in order to set the record straight. They refused to allow me that chance. Today, after it was made clear to them that I would only do a live interview, a CNN reporter knocked on my door and asked me to tape an interview. I declined.

We look forward to the proper opportunity to correct the many inaccuracies which have been reported by some media."

Here's that report by Gary Tuchman...
((HT: CNN))
The town of Steubenville is even going to the length of starting their own website to combat the rumors of the case- steubenvillefacts.org And here is the 12-minute video in question that is raising so much discussion where a high schooler, clearly, doesn't get it... ((HT: Jason Hamel))