Ohio Pastor Who Complained About Graphic Gay Novel at Daughter's School Pleads Guilty to Sexual Crimes Involving Childre [View all]

https://www.ibtimes.sg/ohio-pastor-who-complained-about-graphic-gay-novel-daughters-school-pleads-guilty-sexual-crimes-85683

By Manthan C.
April 23, 2026 19:08 +08


A Wilmington, Ohio, pastor who had previously spoken out against LGBTQ+ visibility in schools, has pleaded guilty to multiple sex offences involving a minor.


According to court records and local reporting, Silas Shelton entered the plea on Monday, 20 April, just before his five-day trial was due to begin. He was arrested last fall.

Shelton pleaded guilty to three third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, along with one misdemeanour count of menacing by stalking. In exchange, more serious charges, including rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition and arson, were dismissed.


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The case has attracted additional attention because Shelton had previously made public appearances railing against LGBTQ+ content in schools.


Shelton spoke in front of the Little Miami Local School District board of education in August, 2023 about the graphic novel Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, which features LGBTQ+ characters and romance. He condemned the book's inclusion in a book fair at his 12-year-old daughter's school, saying "it isn't a religion matter ... It's a health risk. It's mental health."

"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," Shelton 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."