Written by After nearly two years and eight months, former Marion City Councilman Ayers Ratliff (D-2nd Ward) is finally being brought in front of a jury of his peers to face justice or vindication.
Facing counts of rape, abduction, and gross sexual imposition going back to a May 2023 allegation involving a close juvenile family member, the case has garnered statewide attention.
Charges were originally filed against Ratliff (age 48) in May 2023, but those were dismissed without prejudice on the 24th of January 2025.
Marion County investigators continued to work on the case and on the 27th of August 2025, the current charges were brought against Ratliff.
Ratliff concluded his 20-year career on Marion City Council on January 1st.
The jury trial is being held in Courtroom B of the Marion County Court of Common Pleas in front of judge Matthew P Frericks.
Ratliff is being defended by attorneys J.C. Ratliff, Rocky Ratliff, Nicholas Barons and Adam Banks.