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(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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