Authorities investigating rape accusations against two high school football players in Ohio launched a website Saturday intended to sort fact from fiction as interest in the case rises, the Associated Press reports. The site posted by Steubenville officials has the appearance of a legal briefing. “This site is not designed to be a forum for how the Juvenile Court ought to rule in this matter,” it declares.
Two 16-year-old boys are set for trial Feb. 13 in juvenile court on charges that they raped a 16-year-old girl in August. Their attorneys have denied the charges. Public interest increased this week with circulation of 12-minute video that purportedly shows another young man joking about the accuser. The video apparently was released by hackers who alleged that more people were involved and should be held accountable. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine called the posting “despicable.”