(STEUBENVILLE, Ohio)—One of the defendants indicted by the Steubenville special grand jury on charges related to the August 2012 rape of a West Virginia girl will serve jail time after he was found guilty Tuesday.
Matthew Belardine, of Steubenville, was found guilty today by Visiting Judge Patricia Ann Cosgrove after Belardine pleaded no contest to one count each of Underage Persons Offenses Concerning (“beer or intoxicating liquor”) and Falsification, both misdemeanors of the first degree. Judge Cosgrove sentenced Belardine to 10 days in jail, one year of community control, and 40 hours of community service. Belardine was also fined him $1,000, $500 for each count.
Belardine was indicted on the charges in November 2013 by the special grand jury reviewing whether additional crimes were committed surrounding the Steubenville rape case. The charges relate to the August 2012 party held at Belardine’s home which was attended by the suspects and victim in the rape case. Belardine was a former volunteer football coach at Steubenville High School and the only adult present at the August 2012 party.
Belardine’s case is the fourth case to be resolved among the six individuals indicted by the special grand jury. Michael McVey has a motion hearing scheduled for May 5th, and William Rhinaman had a pretrial hearing scheduled this afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
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