John Balyo Search Warrants: Documents Reveal Former Christian Radio Host's Secret Lifestyle
By Angie Jackson
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- John Balyo, the former Christian radio host who has admitted to molesting young boys and creating child porn, spoke "cryptically" to a male companion after asking to store a computer at the friend's house, court records show. Balyo, before the allegations against him came to light in June, requested the man hold the computer and told him "if it all goes south, you'll know what to do," according to search warrant records filed by investigators in Kent County District Court. The documents, which shed more light on Balyo's secret lifestyle, were recently unsealed after being suppressed for 56 days under state law. The records do not show what was contained on the computer, which was turned over to authorities by the man who identified himself to police as having a sexual relationship with Balyo. The man said he never took the computer out of the box Balyo left it in. Balyo first met the friend two years ago in a gay online chat room, documents state. The friend told investigators they had a continued relationship until Balyo got married earlier this year. The man said his interactions with Balyo did not involve children. The friend wasn't aware that Balyo had worked eight years at WCSG, a Christian radio station operated by Cornerstone University. He said Balyo was "very guarded" about his identity. WCSG cut ties with Balyo when the allegations were made public. His wife recently filed for divorce in Kent County Circuit Court, records show. The day after his June 20 arrest at Big Ticket Christian music festival in Gaylord, Balyo called WCSG general manager Chris Lemke from jail, according to court documents. He asked Lemke to retrieve a slip of paper from the glove box of his car - advising him to break the window if necessary - and call the number listed for the friend who was holding Balyo's computer. Lemke was instructed to tell the man that Balyo could no longer help with his heart medication, documents state. Detectives instead retrieved the note from Balyo's car. The friend said Balyo had once driven him to a pharmacy and helped him pay for his medication on one occasion, but that was the extent of his assistance with the medication. Balyo's friend told detectives he was not aware of any plans to destroy the computer, but he said Balyo often spoke "cryptically" in ways he didn't understand. Authorities launched the investigation into Balyo after linking him to Ronald Moser, a 42-year-old Battle Creek resident who posted sexual photos of boys to a child porn hosting website. Police executed a search warrant at Moser’s home on June 5 and found a 12-year-old boy there. The boy told detectives that Balyo on three occasions met him and Moser at hotel rooms in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. Balyo took photos of the child, and the men made the boy perform sex acts. Investigators found text messages between Moser and Balyo that alluded to meeting up with the child. Balyo’s federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child and child pornography revolve around the assault of the 12-year-old boy at a Kalamazoo County hotel. A case in Calhoun County, for which he's charged with first-degree degree criminal sexual conduct, involves an 11-year-old boy. Investigators confiscated computers and photographic equipment from Balyo's Caledonia home and found images of child porn. They also searched his Plainfield Township storage unit, which contained a "bondage" kit with items such as handcuffs, chains and duct tape. The 35-year-old Balyo awaits sentencing in November on state and federal charges related to sexual acts with minors and taking pornographic pictures of a 12-year-old boy. Moser also pleaded guilty to federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography. He will be sentenced in November. Angie Jackson covers public safety and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her at ajackso3@mlive.com, and follow her on Twitter. ajackso3@mlive.com
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