Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin said on Monday that she has stepped aside from a rape investigation involving two Steubenville High School student-athletes.

Hanlin filed a petition asking the Jefferson County Common Pleas Court to appoint two special prosecutors from the Ohio Attorney General's Office to handle the case. Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. granted her petition.

The two prosecutors, Marianne Hemmeter and Jennifer Brumby, are part of the Attorney General's Office Crimes Against Children Unit.

"What we want is to be able to show the citizens of Jefferson County that everything that can be done in this case is being done, and if that means eliciting the help of these people from the Attorney General's Office, then that's what we want to do in this case," said Hanlin.

The two 16-year-old suspects were charged last week in connection with alleged kidnapping and rape of another minor. One teen is facing an additional charge of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

Both suspects are being held at the juvenile detention center in Jefferson County.

Hanlin said a motion was also filed that will allow the juvenile court to decide if the teens should be bound over and tried as adults.

A hearing will be held to make that determination. As of Monday evening, that hearing had not yet been scheduled.

The charges stem from a police report that was filed in Steubenville at 1:40 a.m. Aug. 14. The report states that people came to the police station "in regards to a sexual assault involving their juvenile daughter." Information was taken for a report and the subjects were referred to the Juvenile Division, the police report stated.

Hanlin previously said a search warrant was obtained to take the cellphones of people who were allegedly involved in the case or who have knowledge of the incident that is under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call police or the NEWS9 Lauttamus Security Crime Busters Tipline at 800-862-BUST. Tips can also be emailed to crimebusters@wtov.com.

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