MARION, Ohio — A Marion councilmember has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the county prosecutor following the dismissal of sexual assault charges against him. Ayers Ratliff is seeking damages exceeding $25,000, claiming his life and career were severely impacted by false allegations.
Ratliff was indicted last year after being accused of raping a 15-year-old girl at his home. According to court documents, the alleged victim disclosed the incident to a friend, who then reported it to a school guidance counselor. This led to an investigation by the Marion police.
The lawsuit contends that the alleged victim was interrogated by law enforcement for three hours without the presence of a parent or school official. During the initial part of the interview, the student reportedly denied any abuse or assault from anyone, including Ratliff. The suit claims she was coerced into changing her statement under pressure from investigators.
Ratliff asserts that Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan and several assistant prosecutors should have recognized the lack of sufficient evidence to support the charges against him. The case eventually led to Ratliff being indicted last summer; however, it was dismissed by a judge earlier this year.
In addition to claiming wrongful imprisonment, Ratliff alleges that he faced significant financial repercussions due to the case. He lost his position at H&R Block and his job as an assistant director at the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association. Furthermore, his role as a substitute teacher with Marion City Schools was terminated as a direct result of the accusations.
The impact extended beyond Ratliff, as his wife, also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, had to close her child daycare business of over a decade due to the fallout from the allegations.
Ratliff argues that all his economic losses and personal distress stemmed from what he describes as a “malicious and unjustifiable” prosecution led by Grogan and his team. The lawsuit alleges that the actions taken were politically motivated to damage Ratliff’s reputation, fueled by a partisan divide, as he is a Democrat and Grogan is a Republican.
As the case unfolds, the repercussions for both Ratliff and his family continue to loom large, drawing attention to the potential consequences of legal actions based on unverified claims.
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