INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a Muncie Central High School principal's conviction on charges he delayed reporting a student's rape.

   The court ruled 2-1 Wednesday that Christopher Smith didn't violate state law requiring officials to report suspected child abuse because administrators didn't realize that one teen raping another was child abuse and the girl had lied to them before.

   The court also says officials reported the girl's claim to a troubled youth center within 20 minutes, and the center notified state officials less than an hour later.

   The 16-year-old girl told Smith and school staff that a classmate raped her in a school bathroom in November 2010. The boy was sentenced to four years in prison.

   Police said the girl sat in Smith's office more than two hours.