Former Christian Radio Host Pleads Guilty to Having Sex With 12-Year-Old Boy: 'I Knew It Was Wrong'
A former Christian radio host pled guilty to a Michigan judge this week for knowingly photographing sexual acts with an underage boy and keeping the images on his phone.
Former radio host John Balyo told U.S. Magistrate Judge Ellen Carmody in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Tuesday that he "knew it was wrong" when he photographed a sexual act performed with a 12-year-old boy at a hotel in Kalamazoo County earlier this year.
"I performed a sexual act as described and I knowingly possessed the images on my camera," the 34-year-okd told Camody, as reported by Michigan Live.
Balyo previously worked for WCSG, a Christian radio station based in Grand Rapids, for eight years before his arrest. He is being charged with sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
The former radio host also faces a state charge of first degree criminal sexual contact involving an 11-year-old boy from Calhoun County.
According to The Christian Post, Balyo's charges require him to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison, but his sentence could be as high as 50 years. His sentence will be delivered in November.
Balyo was reportedly soft-spoken and brief during his hearing on Tuesday, answering only "yes, your honor" and "no, your honor" when questioned by the judge.
"John Balyo is completely remorseful and is taking every step to reduce the trauma and misery of people having to come to court. [Balyo] is proactively resolving this […]with full acceptance of responsibility," the radio host's defense attorney, David Dodge said in a statement.
