CLEVELAND (AP) — The superintendent of the eastern Ohio
district where two high school football players were found guilty of
rape in a high-profile case last year wiped computer hard drives, erased
emails and lied to investigators about his knowledge of the allegations
against the boys, newly released court documents say.
The filing
Thursday came in the case against Steubenville superintendent Michael
McVey, 51, who has pleaded not guilty to felony counts of tampering with
evidence and obstructing justice, and misdemeanor counts of
falsification and obstructing official business.
The charges stem
from an investigation of McVey’s actions after he learned of the
allegations in 2012 made by a 16-year-old West Virginia girl against the
two members of the storied Steubenville High football team, one of whom
was the team’s quarterback. The teens eventually were found guilty in
juvenile court and were sent to youth detention centers and classified
as sex offenders.
The case drew national attention in part because
of the role of texting and social media in exposing the attack, which
led to allegations that authorities were covering up the actions of
football players.
McVey is accused of misleading authorities about
the school’s investigation into the rape allegations and concealing
knowledge about rumors of sex and drinking at a teen party four months
earlier.
The new filing alleges that he erased evidence that
included emails and data on computer hard drives. McVey may have had
someone wipe the hard drives for him, the document says.
McVey is on paid administrative leave. Calls seeking comment from his attorney Friday were not returned.

Three
other people associated with the school and football team were charged
along with McVey, including a volunteer coach who held a teen drinking
party that August evening, and two elementary school principals who were
accused of failing to report possible child abuse. All three pleaded
guilty to misdemeanor charges. The volunteer coach was sentenced to 10
days in jail; the two principals, one of whom served as the team’s
strength coach, were ordered to perform community service.
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