By Jeff Devine
WICKSBURG—Two Houston County men are behind bars following an investigation into separate incidents of child sexual abuse involving the same victim in the Wicksburg community.
According to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified on October 7, 2025, about the sexual assault of a juvenile under the age of 12 near the 100 block of Market Street. Investigators quickly began collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and coordinating with the Child Advocacy Center for the victim’s interview.
During the investigation, authorities identified Thomas Ratcliffe, 62, of Daleville, as a recent suspect, and later determined that the same victim had allegedly been assaulted years earlier by Ricky Paschal, 66, of Wicksburg.
On October 8, investigators and SWAT personnel executed two search warrants at homes along Market Street, collecting multiple pieces of evidence before taking both men into custody.
Ratcliffe has been charged with one count of Sexual Abuse of a Child Less Than 12, with bond set at $30,000. Paschal faces three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Child Less Than 12, with a total bond of $90,000.
Both men were booked into the Houston County Jail, where they remain in custody as of Monday afternoon.
The investigation is ongoing.
Dale County Chronicle has the general policy of including the following legal disclaimer on all reports involving arrests: in America’s criminal justice system, all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
