Two high school football players found guilty of rape

Staubenville, OH, United States (4E Sports) – Two members of the Steubenville high school football team were found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl during a back-to-school party.

Judge Thomas Lipps sentenced Trent Mays, 17, and Ma’lik Richmond, 16, to a minimum of two years and one year in a juvenile correctional facility, respectively.

However, the two could remain in detention until they are 21, depending on their behavior and rehabilitation.

Lipps said the Department of Youth Services will rule whether the two boys will be detained longer.

The two will also be required to register as sex offenders and undergo treatment while in detention.

Lipps said he would postpone a hearing into which sexual offender registration category they will be classified until the end of their sentence.

The judge also ordered Mays and Richmond to stay away from the victim until they are 21.

The victim was not in the courtroom when the ruling was read, but her mother gave a statement after the judge’s ruling.

“Human compassion is not taught by a teacher, a coach or a parent. It is a God-given gift instilled in all of us,” the victim’s mother said. “You displayed not only a lack of this compassion, but a lack of any moral code.”

The woman said her daughter will persevere and move on, adding that she has pity for Mays and Richmond.

Bob Fitzsimmons, the victim’s legal counsel, did not comment when asked if the girl and her family plan to file a civil case.

“I told Ma’lik to put all his trust in God. God will see him through this,” Nate Richmond said regarding his son. “I told him that I love him, basically. And to be strong.”

During the hearing Ma’lik Richmond and Mays apologized to the families involved in the case.

“I had no intention to do anything like that,” he said. “And I’m sorry to put you guys through this.”

“No pictures should have been sent out, let alone been taken,” Mays said.

Mays and Richmond were accused of inserting a finger in the girl’s vagina, an act that constitutes rape under Ohio law if it is not consensual.

The victim testified that she learned of the assault through circulating text messages, cellular phone photos and videos.

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