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Sheriff under fire for handling of high school rape case

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    Attorney for accused football player speaks out on charges

  • Duration 5:35
  • Date

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This transcript is automatically generated

This is -- story of where the outrage has grown in Ohio town where sheriff is under fire.

For his handling of high school rape investigation to -- -- go high school football players.

They've been arrested in the alleged attack on a sixteen year old girl from last August.

Protesters have converged on the small town near the West Virginia Pennsylvania border claiming the county sheriff is protecting the football team.

And that more people should be charge of the sheriff denies the allegations and said this about the demonstrators.

When -- committed to characterize -- had respect for.

I thought their cause was right -- thought there was some injustice going -- you have a right to stand up for that.

But when you cross the long and historic character assassination.

They've lost their mission.

That is tread Abdullah the sheriff and this is Walter Madison the attorney for one of the accused players and sir thank you.

For your time today -- good morning to you from Cleveland Ohio.

Where there were others involved other than just the two would that have been charged.

There were well this a few things is this really need to be set straight in terms of the facts that everyone should be able to understand this.

Video this repugnant video.

Where the commoner depicted.

Makes these -- -- goes on that has really incited the nation.

Are just that opinions.

And they are reducing his expression.

Okay -- his form of expression and they're not criminal.

I believe that.

The release of that video through social media has really caused.

An atmosphere that is unfair and coercive.

The sheriff and the county mr.

Abdullah.

Has reported that there are.

People walking around scallions city streets of student deal with these -- intimidating individuals.

Threatening to release information.

On the web site if they want to participate -- choose to participate.

And there are witnesses that are reluctant now to come forward.

-- Lennon says just -- -- -- the video you're talking about as a network we have chosen not to show apparently it shows a sixteen year old victim being taken away by here.

By her wrists and by her ankles fully clothed and this this part here this gathering back in early August to back to the question.

Are there are just two men involved here or were there others.

-- two men charged there are others who were.

I guess in review and it.

Granted immunity if you will by.

The attorney general's office so.

For whatever reasons they chose to do that I can't explain how the amount and a little more -- direct question because with the people of this rally charged the sheriff of doing.

And by the way we've reached out to him in his office were waiting to hear back and I'll bring you a little bit about what he is set already been very public about this he's not hiding anywhere.

But the allegation is that he's covering up for the football team.

You believed to be that the case or not.

I have no and I can't comment on that I don't believe there's a cover up I don't see it.

I see -- charge I see my -- league Richmond who you know this video has nothing to do with.

It's it's a form of someone's expression as repugnant as it is -- saw that it is and I believe.

The negative inference is being drawn if you put the two images together is that.

These people were present or at this alleged -- upon going -- as video and that couldn't be farther from.

The -- in fact the facts in this case so you know the misconstrued there's reasons why these things aren't released to the public.

Because of -- inflammatory nature and there's reasons why this wouldn't be admissible in court because it's.

Legally irrelevant.

I see okay we will watch for that but both of the accused her age sixteen you mentioned the league Richmond the other is -- -- do you expect from new charges.

Either against these two men or others.

No actually that there were more charges originally and they've been dismissed because they failed to meet a very low standard in Ohio probable cause.

And they failed so.

As this case progresses.

I think the inflammatory nature of what we all learned in the beginning settles.

And we are hopefully in a position where we can fairly.

Deal with the evidence and the facts and come -- with a -- an adjudication and admirably all you want a change of venue.

Can you went on that argument.

Well I don't know if I can win or not I don't make that decision all I can do is ensure that believe Richard gets a fair opportunity.

And when there is an atmosphere the witnesses are reluctant to come forward who would assist in the process -- that fact finding process.

For fear of being ostracized.

Or painted as a villain and or their future jeopardized.

I think a fair trial is -- completely destroyed and one remedy that the system allows for is to -- is to change venue.

And the system can protect itself and we ought to support that.

Well you heard what you sheriff said the sheriff police people have made their minds are made made up their minds -- -- when -- say case like this who would wanna cover up any of this.

He's talking about going back and having -- it's every interview 59 different witnesses but the police department has already done he's made decision not to do that.

So for the time being it is your client one another young man accused sir we're gonna watch this story thank you sir Walter Madison is the attorney.

For one of the -- out of Cleveland Ohio today.

Thank you and who.

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