Onetime Miller Pastor Accused in Sex Sting Pleads Guilty

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A onetime pastor in Miller has pleaded guilty to trying to solicit sex from someone he thought was a teenage girl.

Joseph Raleigh is charged in federal court with attempted trafficking of a minor girl for commercial sex. It carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The Capital Journal reports that the plea deal calls for prosecutors to drop a more serious charge of commercial sex trafficking with children. It carries the possibility of life in prison without parole.

The 34-year-old Raleigh was arrested last October in Blunt in a law enforcement online sting operation. He resigned from the Miller church within days of his arrest.

Sentencing is scheduled Sept. 19 in Pierre.

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