Trial date set for Ohio ex-school worker in Steubenville rape case

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A former eastern Ohio school district technology director faces a late February trial on charges alleging he misled investigators looking into the rape of a 16-year-old girl by two high school football players.

Former Steubenville schools employee William Rhinaman, of Mingo Junction, has pleaded not guilty to evidence tampering, obstructing justice, obstructing official business and perjury.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, says a final pretrial hearing is set for Jan. 28 with a tentative trial Feb. 24.

Rhinaman was indicted earlier this year by a grand jury looking into whether other crimes were broken in the rape of the West Virginia girl in August 2012.

In March, a judge convicted two Steubenville football players of raping the girl after an alcohol-fueled party.