Former Radio Host Pleads Guilty in Child Rape
By Trace Christenson
A former Grand Rapids Christian radio host pleaded guilty Tuesday to raping an 11-year-old boy in Battle Creek. John Richard Balyo, 35, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in the May 17 assault in a Beckley Road motel room. He faces a minimum of 25 years in prison and could be sentenced to a maximum of life. Balyo also faces a minimum of 15 years in prison after pleading guilty in July in U.S. District Court to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography. He will be sentenced there Nov. 6 and in Calhoun County on Nov. 10. The sentences will be served concurrently. Balyo, dressed in an orange Calhoun County jail uniform, appeared with his attorney, David Dodge, before Circuit Judge Conrad Sindt. He told the judge he met the 11-year-old boy and the child performed oral sex on Balyo. Balyo described the act to Judge Sindt as part of the plea. Balyo said another man was in the room at the time and investigators have alleged that Ronald L. Moser of Battle Creek, provided children for sexual acts with Balyo. Moser also has pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child and faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 14. In exchange for his guilty plea, a second count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct will be dismissed against Balyo, Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert told the judge. Gilbert said he agreed to allow Balyo serve the county sentence and the federal sentence at the same time. Balyo was fired by radio station WCSG after he was charged.
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