MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Visiting Common Pleas Judge Daniel Hogan granted a Rule 29 judgment of acquittal for Heidi Ratliff following the prosecution’s presentation of evidence, ending the criminal case against her without sending it to a jury.
The ruling came after Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan and Assistant Prosecutor Mark Weaver presented the state’s case. Ratliff was represented by attorneys Rocky Ratliff, Adam Banks and Hillary Santiago-Burgos.
Under Rule 29 of the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure, a judge may enter an acquittal when the prosecution’s evidence is legally insufficient to support a conviction. Judge Hogan reportedly concluded that reasonable minds could reach only one conclusion based on the evidence and dismissed the charges against Ratliff.
Ratliff had faced charges including child endangerment, obstruction of justice and witness intimidation. The case followed the prosecution of her husband, former Marion City Councilman Ayers Ratliff.
Ayers Ratliff was initially indicted in August 2024 on charges including rape, abduction and gross sexual imposition. Those charges were dismissed in January 2025. He was later reindicted on August 27, 2025, and was acquitted by a jury in February 2026.
Heidi Ratliff was indicted for the first time on August 27, 2025. The defense argued that the charges against both spouses were politically motivated and unsupported by physical or corroborating evidence. Those claims have been disputed by the prosecution.
The Ratliffs filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Grogan and others on July 17, 2025. The case was stayed while the criminal proceedings were pending.
The federal lawsuit alleges false arrest, malicious prosecution, wrongful imprisonment, libel and slander, and seeks damages. Following Heidi Ratliff’s acquittal, the Ratliffs are expected to seek lifting the stay and permission to amend the complaint to add additional defendants.
With both criminal cases concluded in acquittals, the federal litigation is expected to become the next major legal phase in the dispute. Marion County Now reached out to Prosecutor Grogan but are still awaiting a response.