Ralph Marcell Hough
Posted by Webmaster in Hall of Shame, High Schools, ME-MV, South Carolina, Teacher's Aides
(07/22/07 – Initial BBT Report)
Ralph Marcell Hough, 31, a special education aide at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was arrested and charged Saturday with criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
According to Horry County Police Hough committed sexual battery with the boy at his home back in March.
Hough appeared in court Monday morning and a judge set his bond at $20,000 on the criminal sexual conduct charge.
On Monday afternoon, Horry County Police charged Hough with drug possession. Media reports indicate that Hough says they drugs belonged to his mother.
Update 7/25/07:
Hough posted bail and was released from jail after having a second bond hearing on the drug charge.
04/23/08 – Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Today Ralph Marcell Hough pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison for five years for lewd acts against a minor less than 16 years old, according to South Carolina Department of Corrections online records available at the link below.
Hough admitted to only the simulated sexual activities.
Reportedly Hough will be required to register as a sex offender and will be prohibited from working around children.
10/19/08 – Additional Information and Update
Webmaster’s notes:
A person, claiming to be the brother of Ralph Marcell Hough, maintains that Hough’s victim was not younger than 16-years-old at the time of the crimes and provided a non-working link to a news report he said confirms that claim.
We investigated and found two news reports for the same source, one dated March 7, 2008 and indicating that a grand jury had indicted Hough on charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, lewd acts on a minor and unlawful possession of Oxycontin. This report stated the victim was 16-years-old.
The second is dated April 24, 2008 and dealing with Hough’s sentencing indicates that the victim was 16-years-old when sexually assaulted by Hough.
Interestingly, the South Carolina Department of Corrections web site continues to indicate that the victim was less than 16-years-old. This is where we derived our information in our report on the sentencing of Hough and the age of his victim.
In the interest of fairness, I am providing links to both the March, 2008 report and the April, 2008 report that both claim the victim was 16. The link to the SC Dept. of Corrections remains in the list of references and as of 10/19/2008, it continues to indicate the age of the victim was less than 16.
References:
Ralph Hough’s South Carolina Department of Corrections Record
Former teacher’s aide sentenced (04/24/08) (Added to references on 10/19/08)
Former special needs teacher sentenced in sexual molestation case (04/23/08)
Teacher’s aide gets 5 years for lewd act (04/23/08)
Socastee High teacher’s aide indicted (03/07/08) (Added to references on 10/19/08)
Teachers aide charged with sex, drug offenses out on bond (7/24/07)
Teacher’s aide facing sex charges posts bail (7/25/07)
Socastee High teacher’s aide remains in jail on sex, drug charges
High school officials respond to arrest of employee (7/23/07)
Entries (RSS)
Damn I went to school with Hough. I hope none of this is true. Just didnt seem like a type of person to do such a thing. Really through me off. This was a kind hearted type of dude. Man this has really thrown me off. I hope everything works out. I hope it has been some kind of mixup. keep me posted.
I know that Victor said that he isn’t going to come to this website anymore, but my comment is for anyone who is on this site. When we hear news about something bad happening to someone else we want to hear all about it and gossip and give our opinion to who ever will listen to us, but then when something happens in our own family we want to deny it and get upset if somebody gossips about it or add lies on to it. We never took time to think about what we were doing to other people until it happens to us. I know first hand because people have judged my family and said all kinds of things that weren’t true, but we just lived our lives and didn’t worry about it. We just let them think what they wanted to think as long as we knew what was really going on. People can be cruel and they don’t care whether what they say hurts your feelings or not. So I’m not putting anybody down in the Hough family or any family, I’m just saying that sometimes when we want to put everybody else down when something happens to them; we should think about how it would feel if it happened to us. So hopefully Victor will come back just once more because I would reallly like to say that it is amazing the way he is being so calm about this situation. Maybe this is the first time that he has had to go through this, but just imagine being ridiculed your whole life.
Aww, bless your heart “good” teacher…i wonder what happened in your life for you to have such a cold, close minded heart…i will add you to my prayer list as you will certainly need it when God begins to teach you compassion, and do not mistake my words for rage…trust me, there is none…I am actually quite calm in my posting, however, your harsh words mean nothing to me and does not phase and neither will they redirect me from my beliefs, you will remember this post in later days to come. God Bless you. You are right about one thing, and I should have listened to the guy easteregg up there…i won’t be back after this, it is pointless to continue…it is very difficult to see a sibling go through such an ordeal and you want to instantly defend them but just as i believe in my brother’s innocence, there are others like you who dont or do not care if he is or isn’t, which is your opinion and you’re entitled to it…post whatever you like, i wont see it again anyway…
peace be with you…oh and to the webmaster…you’re right about that link, i tried it again myself and it didnt work…lol…oh well, its all good for real, i am really not angry or rageful as put by the “good” teacher, just kinda place yourself in my shoes, if you care to try so…and yes, thanks for the corrections i see you did make and as i said it has been a while since i was on here…i came on merely to compile info… be blessed
I think he is a sick freak and needs help more than what the prison can give him. He is so crazy and what he did is so COLD and WRONG and devilish. That is truly what i believe.
Victor – Direct your rage elsewhere. I understand that it must be frustrating to have a pedophile rapist as a brother, but you’re not doing anyone any service by running your mouth and threatening that people are going to “catch a lawsuit.” Right – good luck finding a lawyer willing to defend a convicted child molester on charges of slander.
To the webmaster – Nice work on your research!
When I heard of this information I must say I was completely shocked. I know this entire family and it is very hard for me to fathom that this could be true. I know how things can get turned and twisted around when someone gets their hands on a story. Just be strong. God Bless you all.
i have not been to this site since the day i posted that comment and to you webmaster, i say, you did not look hard enough. To get facts, where do you go??? to the media, to other websites, maybe court records to be absolutely accurate….you did not look hard enough. this web link, http://www.wpde.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=125752……goes straight to a direct link …who trusts the media fully, but clearly it is an ONLINE link to a television station…my statement remains….You may want to check your facts posted on this website before you catch a lawsuit… and thank you to all the supporters and the messages left on behalf of Marcelle….My family appreciates your kind words and support.
God Bless
Webmaster’s notes:
Let’s see…
On August 5th, 2007 you took me to task for our coverage of the case saying we had it wrong in several regards and that the press had recanted something, what you never made clear. On that same day, August 5, 2007 I responded and indicated that I had personally updated our coverage to reflect the latest changes/corrections available in media reports at the time.
Now here it is October 19, 2008 and you provide a non-working link to a news report dated April 24, 2008 to prove we got it wrong back in August, 2007. It really would have been handy had you provided a link with the story revision back in August, 2007 when you were complaining about it initially rather than 14 months later with a link to a report dated 8 months after our August, 2007 exchange.
By the way, the OFFICIAL online record for Ralph Marcell Hough at the SC Department of Corrections still contains the notation “Offense Lewd Act/child Under 16 “. Why ya’ reckon that is? As for lawsuits, one would probably need to sue the SC Dept. of Corrections first as they are the folks saying that your brother molested a child under 16-years-old, we just link to those official records. You can check the Department of Corrections link for yourself any time you like as it’s right up there in the “References”.
I played college football with Hough and I couldn’t believe this when I heard it. Victor I would like for the corrections to be made if possible because it troubles me to see this happen to a friend.
this is for the brother of ralph marcell.dont get all upset by what people are saying here-most talk nonsens.and dont have the facts.talk is cheap.and most of them say stuff 2 PO the relatives.so dont even give them the time of day.i know you want 2 defend your brother ,i cant blame you.i wish your brother the best.
.
Comment edited slightly by site admin to remove a profanity.
the corrections you are looking for are not online. the facts reported by the media in this case have been inaccurate from day one. You’ll need to pull the court records which hasn’t been done.
i was a classmate of marcell and i know these charges on him are false, every since i knew marcell he always carried himself in away we all looked up to. the truth will come out, im here for ya cell.
We are always happy to make updates/corrections when needed.
In light of your comment we re-examined everything we can find on-line regarding Ralph Hough’s arrest and made corrections/clarifications as deemed appropriate.
We have been unable to find anything indicating the alleged victim is not between 11-14 years of age. If anyone can provide a source for such information we will happy to update our coverage, otherwise it stays as is.
To Whom it may concern:
Ralph Marcelle Hough is my brother. You may want to check your facts that you have posted on this website before you catch a lawsuit. The information you have published has been recanted by the news media. There was no crack charge on the warrant and he does not have a criminal record til now to have a 1st offense of drugs…and the child was not between 11-14.
God Bless you