Ex-Steubenville coach gets trial date in rape aftermath

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio –  A former volunteer coach whose home was allegedly the scene of a drinking party that preceded a rape by two Ohio high school football players is set for trial in the spring.

Matthew Belardine and three others are charged with trying to thwart the investigation into the August 2012 rape of a 16-year-old West Virginia girl by two Steubenville football players. He has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts including making a false statement and contributing to underage alcohol consumption.

The district's superintendent, technology director and another coach have also pleaded not guilty. All four were indicted following a grand jury investigation.

In March 2013, two Steubenville High School football players, Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays, were convicted of raping an intoxicated 16-year-old at a party. Richmond has since been released from juvenile detention, but Mays, who was sentenced to an extra year for disseminating nude photos of the victim, is still in detention.

The case received national attention when Internet hacker group Anonymous became involved in the case, releasing video of witnesses laughing about the rape, and holding protests to hold the rapists - and the adults who knew about the rape - responsible.