A former Christian radio host was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday (Dec. 11) for sexually exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.
John Balyo, the morning host of Christian radio station WCSG, was fired in June after being arrested for arranging a sexual encounter with a minor Christian Today reports. Balyo was already serving a 25-50 year sentence for sexually assaulting a child in May 2013.
Judge Robert Holmes, father of best-selling author Rob Bell, presided over Thursday’s hearing. He said, "I'm having a lot of trouble trying to reconcile two people in the orange jumpsuit before me. There's the Christian man with a reputation as a value-driven individual. But there is something else going on that is troubling...filthy, obscene. I don't get it. I don't get where you went off."
Balyo had pleaded guilty to the sexual exploitation and child pornography charges in July.
"I performed a sexual act as described and I knowingly possessed the images on my camera," he said. The former radio personality also admitted that he "knew it was wrong."
WCSG said after Balyo’s June arrest that it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the events.
Publication date: December 12, 2014