The Glade 4.0

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - A school superintendent and three more people have been charged by a grand jury that investigated whether other laws were broken in the rape of a 16-year-old West Virginia girl last year in eastern Ohio.

"I think there is a culture problem, and the cultural problem is denial, protect, not seek the truth," says Ohio Attorney Mike Dewine.

DeWine announced the charges Monday in Steubenville.

The grand jury had investigated whether adults like coaches or school administrators knew of the rape allegation but failed to report it as required by state law.

Dewine says the message to educators across the state is something they should already know.

"It's a message superintendent and principals don't need to hear, it's protect your kids," he said.

The Steubenville superintendent faces the most serious charges, including obstructing justice. A principal, a strength coach and a volunteer coach also are charged. They're accused of interfering with the investigation or failing to report possible abuse of a minor.

The Steubenville School Board will meet tonight to decide how to go forward in the wake of the charges against the Superintendent.

A student who didn't want to be named said he didn't want the negative publicity surrounding the case to damage the good reputations of teachers and students in the district.

"We have great athletics year in and year out, we have some of the great academics In the Ohio Valley, you know, they forget about the great things we do, the great people that we have teaching and attending school," he said.

A judge convicted two Steubenville football players with raping the girl in August 2012.
The school district said the superintendent and the other school employees are on paid administrative leave following the indictments.