A former minister and his spouse face charges following reports from victims detailing over 60 cases of sexual abuse and assault in Lewis County that occurred more than two decades ago.
Criminal complaints filed in Lewis County on Nov. 18 reveal that John Radcliff, 57, of Nettie, is accused of sexually abusing and assaulting at least five juvenile victims multiple times between 1987 and 2003.
West Virginia State Police troopers from the Weston detachment initiated an investigation into Radcliff on October 28, following his arrest on sexual abuse charges in Nicholas County in September. They discovered potential additional victims in Lewis County.
Between Sept. 16 and Nov. 17, interviews were held with five victims in Lewis County, as detailed in five separate criminal complaints against Radcliff.
A complaint reveals that one victim reported the abuse by Radcliff began when she was just 3 years old. She remembered a time when she was 8 years old, and Radcliff placed her hand on his genitals while she was in his vehicle and started to ‘teach her’ how to stimulate a man, as stated in the complaint. The victim reported that afterward, Radcliff “tidied himself up and discarded the trash out the window, and they then went back to his house as if nothing had occurred.”
When the victim was around 10 to 12 years old, John Radcliff and his wife Kathy Radcliff, 52, of Nettie, reportedly invited the victim and another child to watch an inappropriate movie with them and then allegedly engaged in sexual acts while the children were present, according to the complaint.
A second victim reported to authorities that John had sexually abused her three times, beginning when she was just 4 years old, according to another complaint. He is accused of coercing the victim into inappropriate acts at his residence and inside his car.
A third victim reported that John started sexually abusing her during her elementary school years, recounting incidents of abuse that occurred in both Lewis County and Harrison County. She described situations where he would make her touch him and his penis, as well as perform oral sex, according to a third complaint.
A fourth victim reported being abused by John Radcliff from ages 3 to 11, detailing multiple instances of abuse in Lewis and Braxton counties. One incident involved her being bathed by Kathy when John allegedly attempted to force her into a sexual act on three occasions, according to a fourth complaint.
When the victim was 11, John allegedly placed her hand on his genitals while they were in his vehicle. She reportedly pulled away multiple times, gripping the door handle tightly to prevent him from pulling her closer, according to the complaint. The victim reported that John “stopped at a convenience store and suggested they go in for a treat,” then “purchased her a slushy and advised her to drink it before they arrived because he hadn’t bought anything for the other kids,” as stated in the complaint.
Complaints have been filed in Lewis County, with additional charges also reported in Braxton and Harrison counties. However, 12 News could not access those criminal complaints due to a West Virginia law concerning the release of information on sexual crimes. On Tuesday, John was taken into custody at the Central Regional Jail, where he is currently held on a bail amount of $1.7 million. In September 2024, he faced eight felony charges in Nicholas County.
Kathy Radcliff faces charges related to the principle and display of obscene material to a minor. On Tuesday, she was taken into custody at the Central Regional Jail, where she is currently held on a bail of $75,000.