Former Pastor Accused in Sex Sting Reaches Federal Plea Deal

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A man accused of trying to solicit sex from what he thought was a teenage girl while he was serving as a pastor in Miller has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

The Capital Journal reports that the terms of the deal between the government and Joseph Raleigh are not yet public.

Raleigh is still negotiating a deal on state charges related to the same incident.

Raleigh was 34 when he was arrested last October in a law enforcement online sting operation. He resigned from the Miller church within days of his arrest.

Raleigh and his attorney are asking for a postponement of his federal trial, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

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