Pastor who said LGBTQ+ books harmed kids imprisoned for sex crimes against minor
A MAGA-supporting anti-LGBTQ+ pastor has been imprisoned for sex crimes against a minor (Getty Images, stock)
A MAGA-supporting pastor who previously said that Pride flags and LGBTQ+-themed books harm children has been sentenced to prison for unlawful sexual contact with a minor.
Sials Shelton from Ohio was given the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for his crimes against a 14-year-old girl. The judge said that he showed “no remorse” for his actions and that he had not apologised once to the victim during the trial.
“When you take absolutely no accountability for your actions, you demonstrate no remorse. You choose rather to blame the victim and claim that you, incredulously, claim that you were the victim of abuse at her home, a 14-year-old child,” judge Andrew MccCoy said.
Shelton was originally arrested for 12 counts of rape, gross sexual imposition, sexual battery and unlawful sexual contact with a minor. He ultimately pled guilty to three third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, leading to a combined sentence.
Once he has been released from prison, Shelton will also have to register as a Tier II sex offender every six months over the next 25 years.
Brian Shidaker, Clinton County prosecuting attorney, told the judge that Shelton took advantage of his victim due to the existing relationship he had with her family, his role in the church and her age. The 14-year-old belonged to the congregation at Shelton’s Blanchester Community Church when the abuse started in 2019.
The victim told the judge that there was no sentence Shelton could be given that would give back what was taken from her.
Shelton has previously spoken out about how LGBTQ+ books are harmful to children, appearing before the Little Miami Local School District Board in 2023.
“I don’t think kids should ever question their sexuality. I don’t think kids should ever explore their sexuality. I don’t think any of that stuff ever ought to be in our school,” he said. “But [my daughter] come home asking me why certain books were in that book fair, which were pertaining to books of gay. One of them was Heartstopper, which is where a gay boy pressures a straight kid into kissing him.”
He also spoke about how there were “health risks” to being gay and called Pride flags in classrooms “a disgusting display”, claiming that they caused division.
The district paused all book fairs as a result to allow time to form a special committee that would screen the books being sold. Book fairs were then only open during parent-teacher conferences rather than during the school day, to allow parents to supervise purchases.
