Ratcliff is expected to plead today
Prosecuting attorney says deal is still on for former sheriff to plead to a felony
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Michael L. Ratcliff’s court appearance today is still on, but only those closest to the case know what he’ll plead to.
And they’re not talking.
“I plan on leaving at about 7:30 a.m., so there damned well better be a plea,” said Terry McDonald, the district attorney pro tem for the case. McDonald practices law in San Antonio.
Last time McDonald talked to Ratcliff’s lawyer, George Filley III, he said the bargain they worked out stands, McDonald said.
“I think it’s a reasonable resolution to the charges,” McDonald said. Ratcliff will plead to a felony, but he would not say what the plea would be.
Ratcliff was a three-term Victoria County sheriff. He’s accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy while in office. An October grand jury indictment accused Ratcliff of engaging in sexual acts with the boy while threatening him with a gun. Later, when the boy was an inmate in the county jail, the indictment accuses, Ratcliff offered to swap preferential treatment for sex acts.
Ratcliff was District Attorney Stephen Tyler’s chief of staff when he was indicted, but resigned from his job after the indictment.
Tyler stepped down from the case and McDonald took his place earlier this year.
Ratcliff and Filley couldn’t be reached for comment.
Leslie Wilber is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6521 or e-mail her at lwilber@vicad.com or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
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A little bit of an educated guess, huh, JC? You definitely have people in the know.
July 3, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.Wow JC! You are almost 100% accurate! But when did Ratcliff commit perjury?
July 3, 2008 at 11:59 a.m.Well, JC....looks like you've got a PhD in educated guesses!
July 3, 2008 at 11:55 a.m.Interesting, JC.... hmmmmmmmmm.........
July 3, 2008 at 9:10 a.m.freethinker you have made my day!! nothing, not even freedom would be worth having sex with ratcliff!!
July 3, 2008 at 9:08 a.m.Want an educated prediction:
Ratcliff pleads guilty to pergury to the grand jury and gets probation...if this is the offer, with no specifics given as to which of the numerous lies he has told, the prosecution needs to take the offer off the table.
July 3, 2008 at 9:03 a.m.In other posts there have been some who have stated that Ratcliff will get off with just probation. I'm not sure that this is true. He may have to spend a few days in jail, after all, he has to plead to a felony. Surely the judge will NOT just hand him a "get out of jail" card... Then again, who knows. I'm not going to speculate on his punishment nor what he'll actually plead to. We'll know soon enough I suppose.
Others have speculated that after today's plea, Ratcliff will cooperate with authorities and bring down some "high ranking" officials in the city of Vitoria... Gosh I hope there are no more skeletons! Personally, I don't think that is the case here. I believe that Ratcliff is going to plead out, serve whatever punishment (if any) and quietly leave town. That's simply my opinion. If it were me, that's what I would do. Oh yes, he'll probably get a peach of a deal..... but there will be no canaries singing in Victoria today!
It's also been suggested that there are other victims of Ratcliff's out there. If there are, and they choose to let sleeping dogs lie, that is their business and I don't feel as if trying to ferret them out will do them any good.
In a few hours, this will be behind Victoria and we can start focusing on more important problems in the area.... specifically our schools!
July 3, 2008 at 7:44 a.m.Hmm, I wonder what possible preferential treatment would be worth having sex with Ratcliff?????
July 3, 2008 at 12:58 a.m.