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John W. Radcliff II was arrested last week on 190 counts
including sexual assault, sexual abuse and incest, state police
said in a news release. His wife, Kathy Radcliff, is charged
with knowing the alleged abuse occurred, the statement said.
The alleged crimes occurred in Braxton, Lewis and Harrison
counties. State police said the investigation “remains ongoing
with more victims coming forward” and that additional charges
are pending.
John Radcliff, 57, is being held on $1.7 million bond, and Kathy
Radcliff is being held on $75,000 bond. Both are at the Central
Regional Jail in Sutton.
John Radcliff appeared for a preliminary hearing Friday in Lewis
County Magistrate Court. James Hawkins Jr., who represents
Radcliff in the Lewis County case, said those charges involve
alleged crimes against five of his nieces that occurred between
1987 and 1996 and were unrelated to Radcliff's association as a
youth pastor.
Radcliff “is adamant about his innocence and looks forward to
the opportunity when he can present a defense on these charges,”
Hawkins said in a telephone interview.
Online records didn't indicate whether Kathy Radcliff, 52, has
an attorney who could comment on the charges against her in
Lewis County.
The state police statement said Trooper R.C. Watson began
investigating John Radcliff in October stemming from an
investigation that another trooper began in 2004. The statement
didn't detail the results of the 2004 investigation. WDTV-TV
reported no charges were filed at the time. Watson didn't
immediately return a telephone message Tuesday.
“We’re trying to figure out what happened with the (2004) case
and why it wasn’t pursued then,” Hawkins said.
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