A MAGA-supporting pastor who previously campaigned against LGBT+ books in schools has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for unlawful sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl.

Silas H. Shelton, 48, was the pastor of Blanchester Community Church in Wilmington, Ohio. In 2023, he appeared before his local school board to argue that LGBT+ books and Pride flags were harmful to children. He called them “a disgusting display” and expressed particular anger over his 12-year-old daughter seeing the book Heartstopper at a school book fair — which he described as a “health risk.” He successfully got school book fairs restricted as a result.

However, Shelton was arrested in October 2025 on multiple charges including rape, sexual battery, and gross sexual imposition. He pleaded guilty in April 2026 to three third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The charges stemmed from abuse that began in 2019 involving a 14 or 15-year-old girl who was a member of his congregation. Prosecutors said Shelton used his position of authority to groom and manipulate the victim, getting her a job working alongside him.

At his sentencing hearing on 22nd June at Clinton County Courthouse, the courtroom was packed with supporters on both sides. The victim and her father addressed the court. The victim told the judge no sentence could give back what Shelton had taken from her.

Judge Andrew McCoy noted that Shelton had never apologised to the victim — not in court, not in previous interviews, and not during the pre-sentence investigation. “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,” McCoy said.

He sentenced Shelton to 15 years in prison, ordering five years for each count to run consecutively. Shelton will also be required to register as a Tier II sex offender for 25 years. His defence had asked for community control, citing that he had no prior criminal record. Prosecutors had asked for the maximum sentence.