The maternal grandmother accused of concealing information in connection to the 2016 Rhoden family murders has accepted a plea deal with prosecution.
.
Rita Newcomb, 66, accused of the forgery of custody papers related to the case, and lying about it to investigators and a grand jury pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of Obstruction of Official Business in exchange for the dismissal of felony level perjury, obstruction and forgery charges.
.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Prosecutor Angela Canepa said a handwriting expert had concluded Newcomb did not sign the custody documents herself and only falsely testified to a grand jury that she did sign the documents at the behest of her daughter Angela Wagner, one of the four defendants changed with the killings.
.
A sentencing date for Newcomb has yet to be scheduled. The maximum sentence allowed under the charge is 90 days in jail. She remains under court order to refrain from contact with her four family members charged with the murders. Newcomb has been ordered released from house arrest and her electronic ankle monitor removed.
.
Monday’s development provides the first resolution in the case which began in late April of 2016.