Former Radio Host Pleads in Sexual Assault Case

A former Christian radio host has admitted to sexually assaulting an 11-year old boy in Calhoun County. John Balyo pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct Tuesday in Calhoun County District Court. A charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct will be dismissed when he is sentenced November 10.  Police say the 35-year old paid a Battle Creek man identified as the subject of a separate Homeland Security investigation for child pornography to arrange the encounter.  Balyo was arrested June 20 at a Christian music festival in Gaylord. He was fired the next day at WCSG, operated by Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids where he worked for eight years. Balyo will be sentenced November 6 in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids after pleading guilty to federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography for a sexual encounter with a 12-year-old in a Kalamazoo motel room. He faces 15 to 50 years in prison.

MRN