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Jury finds former Marion city councilmember not guilty of rape, other sex crimes

Courtroom gavel with scales of justice in the background.
Livinskiy
/
Adobe Stock

A Marion County jury has found former Marion City Councilmember Ayers Ratliff not guilty of rape, abduction and three counts of gross sexual imposition.

Ratliff was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2024. The jury found him not guilty on all counts on Tuesday.

Ratliff's wife, Heidi, is scheduled to go to trial Feb. 17 on charges of obstructing justice, endangering children and intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness.

Both were indicted in August 2024.