Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty

Marietta Times
February 8, 2017

http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/2017/02/youth-pastor-pleads-guilty/

An April sentencing date has been set for a former youth pastor indicted on 14 counts related to obscene materials.

Stefan Andrew Deliramich, 30, appeared in Wood County Circuit Court Tuesday and entered pleas of guilty to two counts of distribution and display to a minor of obscene matter.

As part of the plea agreement, additional charges in the indictment will be dismissed. His trial was set to start this week.

Deliramich, a Wyoming native, was indicted by the September 2016 grand jury on 14 counts, seven for use of obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor and seven counts of distribution and display to a minor of obscene matter.

According to court records, Deliramich used fake Instagram and SnapChat accounts and posed as a 16-year-old boy with the screen name “ethanrjones22” between April 2015 and February 2016.

Deliramich never posted bond and has been in custody at the North Central Regional Jail since April.

At the time of his arrest in April 2016 Deliramich was a youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Williamstown.

Prosecutors said there was never any contact between Deliramich and those he came in contact with through the accounts.

Under West Virginia law he faces one to five years in prison for each count or a fine of $25,000 for each count or both. He would be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Judge Robert Waters set the sentencing for 9 a.m. April 7.

In other hearings:

* Tyler McMahan, 24, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail, appeared for an extradition hearing. He waived extradition to Washington County, Ohio; however, Judge Jason Wharton stayed execution of extradition pending the disposition and completion of incarceration or the posting of bond on charges in Wood County Magistrate Court.

* Corey L. Smearman, 28, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail, appeared for an extradition hearing before Wharton. He waived extradition to Washington County, Ohio.

* Duane E. Hamrick, 45, 2429 Blennerhassett Heights, Parkersburg, entered a plea agreement with the state to plead guilty to DUI causing the death of any person as charged by the September 2016 grand jury.

A second charge of destruction of property was dismissed. Judge Robert Waters set sentencing for 3 p.m. April 7.

* Allen Leon Brown, 39, 1235 Swann St., Parkersburg, was granted a motion to continue his trial since his attorney was ill. Waters continued the trial to 9:30 a.m. March 9. He was indicted by the September 2016 grand jury on a charge of malicious assault.