Steubenville, OH Gang Rape Case

[Sphincter Cop]

If even half of what is at the link SC provided is true, corruption runs deep in Steubenville.

As much as I want to believe that this investigation is being done properly by the Steubenville P.D. My faith is rattled by the instertion of the Attorney General's office, Anonymous getting involved, and a number of people who have recused themselves from the case itself.

Then, I get on Wikipedia and see this in reference to the town:
Political corruption

Steubenville has had a reputation for political corruption. The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that the city and police force had subjected numerous individuals to "excessive force, false arrests, charges, and reports" and had engaged in practices regarding "improper stops, searches, and seizures." The report from the Department also stated that excessive force was levied against individuals who witnessed incidents of police misconduct, and against those who were known critics of the city and its police force. Those individuals were also falsely detained if the city and the police agreed that they were "likely to complain of abuse." It also stated that the officers involved also falsified reports and tampered with official police recorders so that "misconduct would not be recorded."

Over a period of 20 years the city lost, or settled out of court, 48 civil rights lawsuits involving its police force. The city paid out more than $800,000, $400,000 of which was between 1990 and 1996. As a result, the city's police force became the second city in the United States to sign a consent decree with the federal government due to an excessive number of civil rights lawsuits. The decree was signed on September 4, 1997 under the "pattern or practice" provision. Under this agreement, the city agreed to improve the training of its police officers, implement new guidelines and procedures, establish an internal affairs unit, and establish an "early warning system."

[heartbreaker6713]

I'm very angry inside about this. it is just sad that the town turns on the victim and death threats are given to her and her family and why, she didn't even remember the extent of the attack!

In reference to the divided town..
Do you think it is because the "team" is so celebrated and their parents are well connected members of the community?

in a small school a similar thing happened when I was in school the school became divided because it became between the victim and the suspects. people will choose who to believe and you find out who your real friends are. one of the suspects either father or step father was a well known attorney but wasn't allowed to represent him for conflict of interest but those boys did the same thing. talking about it in school and cutting out articles and passing them around. the girl was subjected to death threats and threatened to being jumped and the schools resolution was to have her leave class 5 minutes early and 5 minutes late arrival to each class like that doesn't separate her from everyone else while she had to continue going to school with them, she didnt have class with them but school was enough. her name was never in the paper but she knew these guys and they were her friends. so to answer the question I think it can come down to who the parents are but I also think it comes down to people not knowing any better and wanting to believe their friends wouldn't do such a thing and sticking by their friend... however they are saying some really cruel things and I thank god that Facebook, myspace, twitter and all shit was NOT around when this happened at my school.

(I apologize for any typos or if this doesn't make much sense my pain medicine is kicking in but I wanted to answer s.c. I am still so upset with this... I am torn about not reading this anymore but I for some reason want to see them pay!)

[heartbreaker6713]

the other sad fact is that certain states have different levels of what penetration and what it means to rape someone... has anyone looked up rape statue for Ohio? you'd be surprised what people get off for? someone rapes someone with a foreign object and then because they claim they didn't do it for sexual gratification they get off.... it happened. I hope these fuckers sit in jail for the rest of their lives and get raped worse than they did to this woman, I don't care if she slept with a different guy every day of the week.

[Duchess]

the other sad fact is that certain states have different levels of what penetration and what it means to rape someone...

No way! If you say no & he takes it anyway, that's rape! Different levels of penetration? That's insane.

I feel like every single day I say, "what the fuck is wrong with people", at least once.

[heartbreaker6713]

I am in complete agreeable with you!

[Sphincter Cop]

A look at Ohio's Rape Law.....

First, the definitions as defined by Ohio, and then Rape

2907.01 Sex offenses general definitions.
As used in sections 2907.01 to 2907.38 of the Revised Code:

(A) “Sexual conduct” means vaginal intercourse between a male and female; anal intercourse, fellatio, and cunnilingus between persons regardless of sex; and, without privilege to do so, the insertion, however slight, of any part of the body or any instrument, apparatus, or other object into the vaginal or anal opening of another. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete vaginal or anal intercourse.

(B) “Sexual contact” means any touching of an erogenous zone of another, including without limitation the thigh, genitals, buttock, pubic region, or, if the person is a female, a breast, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying either person.

© “Sexual activity” means sexual conduct or sexual contact, or both.
(D) “Prostitute” means a male or female who promiscuously engages in sexual activity for hire, regardless of whether the hire is paid to the prostitute or to another.

(E) “Harmful to juveniles” means that quality of any material or performance describing or representing nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse in any form to which all of the following apply:

(1) The material or performance, when considered as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of juveniles in sex.

(2) The material or performance is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable for juveniles.

(3) The material or performance, when considered as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value for juveniles.

(F) When considered as a whole, and judged with reference to ordinary adults or, if it is designed for sexual deviates or other specially susceptible group, judged with reference to that group, any material or performance is “obscene” if any of the following apply:

(1) Its dominant appeal is to prurient interest;

(2) Its dominant tendency is to arouse lust by displaying or depicting sexual activity, masturbation, sexual excitement, or nudity in a way that tends to represent human beings as mere objects of sexual appetite;

(3) Its dominant tendency is to arouse lust by displaying or depicting bestiality or extreme or bizarre violence, cruelty, or brutality;

(4) Its dominant tendency is to appeal to scatological interest by displaying or depicting human bodily functions of elimination in a way that inspires disgust or revulsion in persons with ordinary sensibilities, without serving any genuine scientific, educational, sociological, moral, or artistic purpose;

(5) It contains a series of displays or descriptions of sexual activity, masturbation, sexual excitement, nudity, bestiality, extreme or bizarre violence, cruelty, or brutality, or human bodily functions of elimination, the cumulative effect of which is a dominant tendency to appeal to prurient or scatological interest, when the appeal to such an interest is primarily for its own sake or for commercial exploitation, rather than primarily for a genuine scientific, educational, sociological, moral, or artistic purpose.

(G) “Sexual excitement” means the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

(H) “Nudity” means the showing, representation, or depiction of human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks with less than a full, opaque covering, or of a female breast with less than a full, opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple, or of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.

(I) “Juvenile” means an unmarried person under the age of eighteen.

(J) “Material” means any book, magazine, newspaper, pamphlet, poster, print, picture, figure, image, description, motion picture film, phonographic record, or tape, or other tangible thing capable of arousing interest through sight, sound, or touch and includes an image or text appearing on a computer monitor, television screen, liquid crystal display, or similar display device or an image or text recorded on a computer hard disk, computer floppy disk, compact disk, magnetic tape, or similar data storage device.

(K) “Performance” means any motion picture, preview, trailer, play, show, skit, dance, or other exhibition performed before an audience.

(L) “Spouse” means a person married to an offender at the time of an alleged offense, except that such person shall not be considered the spouse when any of the following apply:

(1) When the parties have entered into a written separation agreement authorized by section 3103.06 of the Revised Code;

(2) During the pendency of an action between the parties for annulment, divorce, dissolution of marriage, or legal separation;

(3) In the case of an action for legal separation, after the effective date of the judgment for legal separation.

(M) “Minor” means a person under the age of eighteen.

(N) “Mental health client or patient” has the same meaning as in section 2305.51 of the Revised Code.

(O) “Mental health professional” has the same meaning as in section 2305.115 of the Revised Code.

(P) “Sado-masochistic abuse” means flagellation or torture by or upon a person or the condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004; 08-03-2006; 08-17-2006; 2007 SB10 01-01-2008

Ohio Revised Code :

2907.02 Rape.

(A)(1) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another who is not the spouse of the offender or who is the spouse of the offender but is living separate and apart from the offender, when any of the following applies:

(a) For the purpose of preventing resistance, the offender substantially impairs the other person’s judgment or control by administering any drug, intoxicant, or controlled substance to the other person surreptitiously or by force, threat of force, or deception.

(b) The other person is less than thirteen years of age, whether or not the offender knows the age of the other person.

© The other person’s ability to resist or consent is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age, and the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the other person’s ability to resist or consent is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age.

(2) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another when the offender purposely compels the other person to submit by force or threat of force.

B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of rape, a felony of the first degree. If the offender under division (A)(1)(a) of this section substantially impairs the other person’s judgment or control by administering any controlled substance described in section 3719.41 of the Revised Code to the other person surreptitiously or by force, threat of force, or deception, the prison term imposed upon the offender shall be one of the prison terms prescribed for a felony of the first degree in section 2929.14 of the Revised Code that is not less than five years. Except as otherwise provided in this division, notwithstanding sections 2929.11 to 2929.14 of the Revised Code, an offender under division (A)(1)(b) of this section shall be sentenced to a prison term or term of life imprisonment pursuant to section 2971.03 of the Revised Code. If an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A)(1)(b) of this section, if the offender was less than sixteen years of age at the time the offender committed the violation of that division, and if the offender during or immediately after the commission of the offense did not cause serious physical harm to the victim, the victim was ten years of age or older at the time of the commission of the violation, and the offender has not previously been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or a substantially similar existing or former law of this state, another state, or the United States, the court shall not sentence the offender to a prison term or term of life imprisonment pursuant to section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, and instead the court shall sentence the offender as otherwise provided in this division. If an offender under division (A)(1)(b) of this section previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to violating division (A)(1)(b) of this section or to violating an existing or former law of this state, another state, or the United States that is substantially similar to division (A)(1)(b) of this section, if the offender during or immediately after the commission of the offense caused serious physical harm to the victim, or if the victim under division (A)(1)(b) of this section is less than ten years of age, in lieu of sentencing the offender to a prison term or term of life imprisonment pursuant to section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, the court may impose upon the offender a term of life without parole. If the court imposes a term of life without parole pursuant to this division, division (F) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code applies, and the offender automatically is classified a tier III sex offender/child-victim offender, as described in that division.

© A victim need not prove physical resistance to the offender in prosecutions under this section.
(D) Evidence of specific instances of the victim’s sexual activity, opinion evidence of the victim’s sexual activity, and reputation evidence of the victim’s sexual activity shall not be admitted under this section unless it involves evidence of the origin of semen, pregnancy, or disease, or the victim’s past sexual activity with the offender, and only to the extent that the court finds that the evidence is material to a fact at issue in the case and that its inflammatory or prejudicial nature does not outweigh its probative value.

Evidence of specific instances of the defendant’s sexual activity, opinion evidence of the defendant’s sexual activity, and reputation evidence of the defendant’s sexual activity shall not be admitted under this section unless it involves evidence of the origin of semen, pregnancy, or disease, the defendant’s past sexual activity with the victim, or is admissible against the defendant under section 2945.59 of the Revised Code, and only to the extent that the court finds that the evidence is material to a fact at issue in the case and that its inflammatory or prejudicial nature does not outweigh its probative value.

(E) Prior to taking testimony or receiving evidence of any sexual activity of the victim or the defendant in a proceeding under this section, the court shall resolve the admissibility of the proposed evidence in a hearing in chambers, which shall be held at or before preliminary hearing and not less than three days before trial, or for good cause shown during the trial.

(F) Upon approval by the court, the victim may be represented by counsel in any hearing in chambers or other proceeding to resolve the admissibility of evidence. If the victim is indigent or otherwise is unable to obtain the services of counsel, the court, upon request, may appoint counsel to represent the victim without cost to the victim.

(G) It is not a defense to a charge under division (A)(2) of this section that the offender and the victim were married or were cohabiting at the time of the commission of the offense.

Effective Date: 06-13-2002; 01-02-2007; 2007 SB10 01-01-2008

[heartbreaker6713]

thanks sc...am I reading this right that under the Ohio definitions it isn't considered rape if you are married and living together? apparently you can't say no to your spouse???

[Sphincter Cop]

thanks sc...am I reading this right that under the Ohio definitions it isn't considered rape if you are married and living together? apparently you can't say no to your spouse???

Wow, that does read tricky! You are right, I had to read it again and again. What a messy state!


Found this for you as well here:
Marital Rape Law In Ohio

The state of Ohio is still one of the places a women does not want to be a victim of marital rape. The chances of a spouse being prosecuted for the offense are next to none. Marital rape is one of the most reprehensible sex crimes and the Government of Ohio still does everything in it’s power to sweep the truth under the rug so to speak.

Marital rape was not considered a crime in all 50 states until 1993. That means that a mere 14 years ago the wife was still treated like the property of her husband. Any sexual abuse that occurred during marriage was not illegal.

You should also know that ³³⁄₅₀ states, including Ohio and Kentucky, still grant some exceptions to husbands who rape their wives. In Ohio, the prosecutors must prove there was force.

[heartbreaker6713]

yeah I read it a couple of times too and was like it doesn't say what I think it does... does it? thanks for that additional info.

[Jimbone]

Then, I get on Wikipedia and see this in reference to the town: [/i] [/size][/color]
Political corruption

Steubenville has had a reputation for political corruption. The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that the city and police force had subjected numerous individuals to "excessive force, false arrests, charges, and reports" and had engaged in practices regarding "improper stops, searches, and seizures." The report from the Department also stated that excessive force was levied against individuals who witnessed incidents of police misconduct, and against those who were known critics of the city and its police force. Those individuals were also falsely detained if the city and the police agreed that they were "likely to complain of abuse." It also stated that the officers involved also falsified reports and tampered with official police recorders so that "misconduct would not be recorded."

Over a period of 20 years the city lost, or settled out of court, 48 civil rights lawsuits involving its police force. The city paid out more than $800,000, $400,000 of which was between 1990 and 1996. As a result, the city's police force became the second city in the United States to sign a consent decree with the federal government due to an excessive number of civil rights lawsuits. The decree was signed on September 4, 1997 under the "pattern or practice" provision. Under this agreement, the city agreed to improve the training of its police officers, implement new guidelines and procedures, establish an internal affairs unit, and establish an "early warning system."

Gee, after reading this I wonder where these kids would ever get the idea that they could get away with it :eye roll:

[NightOwl]

thanks sc...am I reading this right that under the Ohio definitions it isn't considered rape if you are married and living together? apparently you can't say no to your spouse???

Wow, that does read tricky! You are right, I had to read it again and again. What a messy state!


Found this for you as well here:
Marital Rape Law In Ohio

The state of Ohio is still one of the places a women does not want to be a victim of marital rape. The chances of a spouse being prosecuted for the offense are next to none. Marital rape is one of the most reprehensible sex crimes and the Government of Ohio still does everything in it’s power to sweep the truth under the rug so to speak.

Marital rape was not considered a crime in all 50 states until 1993. That means that a mere 14 years ago the wife was still treated like the property of her husband. Any sexual abuse that occurred during marriage was not illegal.

You should also know that ³³⁄₅₀ states, including Ohio and Kentucky, still grant some exceptions to husbands who rape their wives. In Ohio, the prosecutors must prove there was force.

Martial rape how ugly! I am so shocked by Ohio's stance on it. All of this above has been so educational and thanks!

[username]

This case makes me feel like I need to shower; it stinks that bad. Ugh.

[NightOwl]

Then, I get on Wikipedia and see this in reference to the town: [/i] [/size][/color]
Political corruption

Steubenville has had a reputation for political corruption. The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that the city and police force had subjected numerous individuals to "excessive force, false arrests, charges, and reports" and had engaged in practices regarding "improper stops, searches, and seizures." The report from the Department also stated that excessive force was levied against individuals who witnessed incidents of police misconduct, and against those who were known critics of the city and its police force. Those individuals were also falsely detained if the city and the police agreed that they were "likely to complain of abuse." It also stated that the officers involved also falsified reports and tampered with official police recorders so that "misconduct would not be recorded."

Over a period of 20 years the city lost, or settled out of court, 48 civil rights lawsuits involving its police force. The city paid out more than $800,000, $400,000 of which was between 1990 and 1996. As a result, the city's police force became the second city in the United States to sign a consent decree with the federal government due to an excessive number of civil rights lawsuits. The decree was signed on September 4, 1997 under the "pattern or practice" provision. Under this agreement, the city agreed to improve the training of its police officers, implement new guidelines and procedures, establish an internal affairs unit, and establish an "early warning system."

Gee, after reading this I wonder where these kids would ever get the idea that they could get away with it :eye roll:

What a whopping find SC, who would have dreamed right there in black and white on Wikipedia, Steubenville has a reputation for Political Corruption. What kind of Ohio town is this?

I am disgusted! JimBone is right kids think "we can do anything in our town and get away with it". Time to change Steubenville no more .

[Sphincter Cop]

I am curious about this divide in the community. Is it really spurred by facts in this case or rumor/innuendo?? It is quite possible that this incident is not as big as it seems, but rather isolated to those two individuals who were charged. However, I think this is going to explode once the trial starts!!!

[NightOwl]

I am curious about this divide in the community. Is it really spurred by facts in this case or rumor/innuendo?? It is quite possible that this incident is not as big as it seems, but rather isolated to those two individuals who were charged. However, I think this is going to explode once the trial starts!!!

This is a hard question to answer, some people are probably fearful of some kind of retaliation if they speak, I'm sure there is a divide and most of it will be from parents with sons on the ball team, coaches etc.,

From CNN
"The Chief of Steubenville Police has been in this position for 13 years and is not a graduate of Steubenville City Schools," the site says. "His child attends another school district."

________________________________________________

I found all of this interesting about the Chief of Police why would his child attend another district? The student on the video is 18 years old and attends Ohio State he has a Facebook page that is vile what kind of young man is this???? I hope Ohio State kicks him out, there is no shame in him. Rumours of child porn even, the possibility of a Coach resigning Monday it's a sick f...ing place down there!!!

Bloody hell yes a big explosion is needed down there.

[Sphincter Cop]

I found all of this interesting about the Chief of Police why would his child attend another district? The student on the video is 18 years old and attends Ohio State he has a Facebook page that is vile what kind of young man is this???? I hope Ohio State kicks him out, there is no shame in him. Rumours of child porn even, the possibility of a Coach resigning Monday it's a sick f...ing place down there!!!

His Twitter is revolting too! They also have Anti-facebook pages against him as well. I stopped short of posting all of the actual pics/pages because he has yet to be named as a suspect or defendant. The other kid involved (the ex) of the victim has lawyered up and they are threatening various sites who are posting information about him. He actually posted pics of the victim on instagram. How innocent...and now he is apologizing to Anonymous. Little pricks......

[Jimbone]

That's pretty funny.

Anonymous doesn't forgive. It doesn't forget. Expect them.

[sharit]

How innocent...and now he is apologizing to Anonymous. Little pricks

His apology means nothing. He is toast.

[Sphincter Cop]

Jefferson Co. sheriff's deputies stand nearby during the protest at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Steubenville, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. Authorities investigating rape accusations against two high school football players in eastern Ohio launched a website Saturday as interest in the case balloons, an extraordinary step designed to combat the misperception "that the football team runs the city," the city manager said. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Thomas Ondrey)

[Jimbone]

I'll bet it's a bit warmer in Steubenville than it looks in that picture... for a few people at least.

Fuckers.