Grand Jury To Weigh More Charges In Ohio Rape Case

04:37

March 18, 2013

Defense attorney Walter Madison, right, holds his client, 16-year-old Ma'Lik Richmond, second from right, while defense attorney Adam Nemann, left, sits with his client Trent Mays, foreground, 17, as Judge Thomas Lipps pronounces them both delinquent on rape and other charges after their trial in juvenile court in Steubenville, Ohio, Sunday, March 17, 2013. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

A grand jury in Ohio will be convened next month to look into whether charges should be filed against people who failed to report what happened to an intoxicated 16-year-old girl at a party where she was drinking with high school football players in Steubenville last summer.

Sixteen people refused to cooperate with investigators as they gathered evidence. And there are questions about how much the head coach of the football team knew about what happened at the party.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that a rarely-used Ohio law makes it a crime not to report a felony such as rape.

Yesterday a juvenile court judge found two teenaged football players guilty of raping the girl digitally (with their fingers) and other sexual acts. The judge said he would decide whether they are released what their sex offender registration requirements will be.

Meantime, CNN is being criticized for coverage perceived to be sympathetic to the teens convicted in the case. A petition on Change.org calling on CNN to make an apology has garnered more than 29,000 signatures (as of 12 noon Eastern time on Monday).

Plain Dealer: Two Steubenville football players are sentenced to youth prison for raping 16-year-old girl (gallery)
Related: How Should State Laws Define Rape?

Do you think CNN's coverage was too sympathetic to the teens convicted? Tell us on Facebook.

Guest:

Rachel Dissell, who covers the court system for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. She tweets @RachelDissell.

This segment aired on March 18, 2013.