Published 18:23 IST, December 11th 2020
Is 'The Assault' a true story? Know the truth behind the 2014 movie
The 2014 film 'The Assault' was recently released on Amazon Prime Video & has created a lasting impression on some viewers. Find out is it based on a true story
- Entertainment News
- 2 min read
Recently the 2014 film The Assault released on Amazon Prime Video. Many Twitter users took to the platform to share their views about the crime drama film that narrates the story of a rape that took place in a high school in Ohio. Produced by Lifetime, the film is helmed by Jason Winn, and stars actors such as Gary Weeks, Khandi Alexander, Erin Cole in the lead role. Read on to find out, “Is The Assault a true story?”
Is The Assault a true story?
Yes, The Assault is based on a true story. A report by the Cosmopolitan magazine reveals that the movie is based on the Steubenville High School rape case, that took place in 2012. The horrifying case had shocked the entire country of the United States, as the sexual assault victim attempted suicide soon after the assault.
The report reveals that the Steubenville High School rape occurred in Steubenville, Ohio on the night of August 11, 2012. During the assault, a high-school girl was incapacitated by alcohol and was publicly and repeatedly sexually assaulted by her schoolmates. The assault was documented and some videos were posted on social media.
Steubenville rape victim
The victim was not only assaulted but also transported, and photographed, by the assailants. When the assault became public, it sparked a national conversation about rape culture in High schools across the United States. The perpetrators were identified as high school football players, Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays. Both the boys were 16 at the time of the crime and were convicted in juvenile court for the rape of a minor.
In the days that followed, three other adults were also indicted for obstructing the investigation into the rape. In addition to this Steubenville's superintendent of schools was charged with hindering the investigation into the assault. The victim in the case was a 16-year-old girl from Weirton, Virginia. A report in The Atlantic revealed that the victim was intoxicated when the assault took place.
As the case was taken to the court, on March 17, 2013, Judge Thomas Lipps tried Mays and Richmond as juveniles. The judge set a minimum sentence of one year for Richmond. He was found guilty of penetrating the girl while she was unconscious, while Mays, who was found guilty of sexual assault and disseminating pornographic pictures of the victim was given a minimum sentence of two years.
Updated 18:23 IST, December 11th 2020