John Balyo's Child Fetish: New Details on Former Christian Radio Host's "Morbid and Sadistic Fascination"
By John Agar
Photos discovered in the child sex assault investigation of former Christian radio host John Balyo show him pointing a handgun at a boy-sized mannequin tied to a post before he used the mannequin’s feet to masturbate, the government said in court records. He kept the anatomically correct mannequin, with a blond wig, tied up in a dog crate, authorities said. “The series of photographs ended with Balyo wrapping the mannequin in a carpet or tarpaulin, as if to bury it," Assistant U.S. Attorney Tessa Hessmiller wrote in court documents. Hessmiller filed a memorandum in advance of Balyo’s Dec. 11 sentencing in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. Balyo, 35, of Caledonia, is serving 25 to 50 years in state prison for molesting a boy in May at a Battle Creek hotel. He pleaded guilty in Calhoun County Circuit Court to first-degree criminal-sexual conduct. Balyo also pleaded guilty to federal charges in the sexual assaults of the child at a Kalamazoo hotel. Hessmiller said advisory federal sentencing guidelines call for a life sentence but the charges he pleaded guilty to, sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography, carry maximum sentences of 30 years and 20 years. She asked that U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell order sentences be served consecutively. Balyo’s attorney has filed a response to presentence report that is available only to the court, attorneys and Balyo. Hessmiller called Balyo a "wolf in sheep’s clothing." Balyo was once the morning show host for WCSG, owned by Cornerstone University. He was arrested June 20 at the Big Ticket Christian in Gaylord. Before his arrest, he had recently married and was a volunteer with Kent County Sheriff’s Department. He was a camp counselor and volunteered as an overseas mission volunteer with children. No one had concerns, authorities said. “Balyo operated under the radar, living a double life,” Hessmiller said. “On the outside, he was a law-abiding, charitable, upstanding citizen. He was able to gain people’s trust, leading no one to suspect that anything was amiss. But underneath the surface, he was feeding a morbid and sadistic fascination with children, creating and accumulating pedophilic materials, rehearsing a sexual kidnapping fantasy with a gun and a child-size mannequin, and meeting clandestinely in hotel rooms with young boys in bondage.” She said that Balyo’s meetings with the boy “resulted in sexual exploitation and degradation of a child in the most depraved way.” Investigators say he kept a bondage kit in a storage locker. His arrest came eight months after he met another pedophile, Ronald Moser, of Battle Creek, online. Moser posted on a website, “Looking for people in or around michigan that r in to kids (sic). Balyo responded, “Yeah! Saw your album and request for anyone from Michigan into kids :) I am that person! Lol,” records showed. Balyo told Moser that “he was into ‘boys, 6-13ish. I like them wearing very little, but especially barefoot. Also into some bondage,’” the prosecutor wrote. After Moser said he liked boys between the ages of 4 and 12, Balyo responded, “I’d like to get to know you a bit more, then I’m open to sharing. I’ve got LOTS we could trade/chat about.” The first assault occurred April 19 at a Kalamazoo hotel. Moser brought a 12-year-old boy. Moser was a trusted family friend. They had another encounter May 9 at a Kalamazoo hotel, then met against on May 17 at a Battle Creek hotel, records showed. Each time, Balyo paid for the hotel, shot pornographic photos of the boy and engaged in sex acts with the boy. He watched Moser sexually assault the boy, too, records showed. Balyo paid the victim an undisclosed sum after each meeting, Hessmiller said. She said the photos “speak for themselves and will be available for the (judge) at sentencing.” Moser was arrested June 5, which prompted Balyo to take several days off from work. Investigators say he brought his Apple computer, memory cards and thumb drives, to a friend's house while his iPhone has not been found. Investigations at the time sought to identify Balyo. His arrest came 15 days after Moser’s. When arrested, Balyo called his boss and asked someone to get a piece of paper from his car with the name, “Don,” and a phone number. Balyo told his boss could break the window if necessary then call Don to tell him to “make alternate arrangements for his heart medication,” the government said in court records. “Don” was a friend to Balyo, but he turned the computer over to police after Balyo’s arrest. The computer contained child pornography, including photos of the victim at the hotels, Homeland Security Investigations discovered. The victim’s mother is seeking $8,500 in restitution. Her family has submitted victim-impact statements about the “lifelong harm” that Balyo and Moser have caused. The statements were filed under seal. Moser will be sentenced Dec. 17 in federal court. jagar@mlive.com
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