STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – A volunteer football coach whose Steubenville house was the scene of a party that preceded the rape of a girl by two high school football players has pleaded no contest to two charges.
The Ohio attorney general’s office says Matt Belardine entered no contest pleas Tuesday in Jefferson County court to one count of making a false statement and one count of enabling underage drinking.
Belardine was a former volunteer football coach at Steubenville High School and the only adult present at the August, 2012, party at his home which was attended by the suspects and victim in the rape case.
Charges of obstructing official business and contributing to the delinquency of a child were dismissed.
Special Judge Patricia Ann Cosgrove sentenced Belardine to 10 days in jail, one year of supervision and 40 hours of community service. She also fined him $1,000.
A message was left with Belardine’s attorney seeking comment.
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.
Belardine’s case is the fourth case to be resolved among the six individuals indicted by the special grand jury.