County treasurer, cross-country coach accused of having child sex abuse materials

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A substitute teacher and cross-country coach in the Macks Creek School District who is also the Hickory County treasurer was charged this week in federal court with distributing child sex abuse material.

Kenneth S. Ratliff, 51, appeared Thursday in federal court in Jefferson City on one criminal count. The federal complaint alleges Ratliff was part of a chat group used to trade photos of children, including some men who identified themselves as fathers.

The complaint alleges that Ratliff appeared in the chat as "badad03" and shared a photo of a clothed girl, taken from behind, in the chat with undercover agents. An FFA seal in a classroom in the background of the picture helped investigators identify the school where it was taken as Macks Creek, the complaint states.

Ratliff is accused of sharing a video depicting sex with an 8-year-old girl, according to the complaint.

The complaint says Ratliff also came up in another child sex abuse material investigation.

Macks Creek Superintendent Josh Phillips wrote in an email to ABC 17 News that Ratliff was fired immediately after the district received the information.

"Student safety is our highest priority, and the District does not tolerate the employment of any individual accused of crimes involving minors," Phillips wrote. "Because this is an ongoing investigation, law enforcement has directed the District to avoid the disclosure of any additional information at this time. The District will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as needed regarding its investigation."

The Hickory County Treasurer's Office did not immediately respond to requests for more information.

Ratliff remained in federal custody after his initial hearing on the charge Thursday in Jefferson City. A detention hearing is set for Tuesday.