Pastor pleads innocent in rape case

Staff report

Youngstown

Ronald L. Pyles, pastor at a North Jackson church, entered innocent pleas on four felony sex charges.

Pyles, 58, was arraigned Tuesday before Magistrate Timothy Welsh of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

He entered innocent pleas to two counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing next Tuesday before Judge James C. Evans. Pyles remains in the county jail.

Pyles, pastor at Victory Harvest Ministry, 13243 Palmyra Road, is accused of raping a 20-year-old woman between October 2010 and March 2011.

During that time, the woman lived at the homeless shelter run out of the ministry, Jackson Township Police Chief Ken Frost said.

Police said they are not aware of other possible victims, but they are encouraging anyone else who may have information to come forward by calling the Jackson Township Police Department at 330-538-3093.