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U.S. Attorney asks for sentence reduction for convicted child sex offender

Posted at 1:55 PM, Dec 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-01 13:55:02-05

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Grand Rapids is asking a court to reduce the sentence of a former Christian radio DJ who is serving prison time for sexual exploitation of a child and possessing child porn.

John Balyo is serving 40 years in prison for the two charges.  He was sentenced last December for the crimes.  Balyo was a former radio host on WCSG, a Christian radio station in West Michigan.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles is asking for a reduction of 20 months of Balyo’s sentence because Balyo has been cooperating with investigators, and his help has led to felony charges against another man, Donald Lee Rabideau, for receiving and possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, Balyo stored computers and other devices that contained child pornography with Rabideau before his arrest.  Balyo told investigators that he and Rabideau looked at child porn together and that Rabideau fantasized about having sexual contact with a child.

The government’s brief that asks for the sentencing reduction says that Balyo has given significant and useful information, has been reliable and truthful, and timely in his assistance.