ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — An alleged Pike County cult member has pleaded guilty to charges in connection to an incest investigation.
Josiah Bellar, 24, entered a guilty plea in Athens County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday to felony charges of felonious assault and child endangerment.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said Bellar was sentenced by Judge Patrick Lang to five years of community control with the possibility of a four-year prison sentence if he violates the terms of his community control. A residential mental health and substance abuse treatment program at Mended Reeds Mental Health must also be completed by him.
Earlier this year, charges were filed against four members of his family. The four people were charged after a teenage girl said she was treated as the family’s sex slave.
The Athens County Prosecutor said Bellar engaged in abusive behavior toward two other juveniles who lived in the home, as well.
According to sources the Bellar family has over a dozen biological children.
The man’s parents, Robert Bellar, 54, and Deborah Bellar, 49, both of Athens, are each charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony, as well as two counts of endangering children, both of which are third-degree felonies. Court records show that they are both being held on a $1 million bond.
Additionally, Jonathan Bellar, 27, the brother of Josiah, has also been charged with gross sexual imposition in connection with the case.
The Bellar family has also been accused of being members of a religious cult with connections to Pike County. Dove Outreach is led by James “Jim” Bellar out of his home in Waverly. According to their website, “Jim” stands for “Jesus is Master.” The leader of the group considers himself an apostle and is currently writing his version of the Bible. Court records show that James is the brother of Robert Bellar.
Blackburn said he launched an investigation and indicted the four members of the family. As part of Josiah Bellar’s plea agreement he will testify against his family.
“I’ve been in criminal defense for 25 years,” said Bellar’s defense attorney Andrew Sanderson. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of circumstances in a household that was as tragic as what Mr. Bellar found himself in while growing up. I’ve had a lot of experience representing people from difficult backgrounds. I’ve stood in front of courts many times and explained that this is not an excuse for my client’s behavior, but rather an explanation for his behavior in some circumstances. In my opinion, there has never been a time when that was more true than it is here. “
Sanderson went on to say that Bellar accepts responsibility for his actions and has “started talking about things he’s never been able to talk about before.”
Blackburn said, “This conviction is a continuation of the state’s allegation that the parents failed in their responsibility to protect their children and allowed them to commit acts of abuse.” Their failure to cooperate continued with their alleged obstruction of the investigation at every step.
A trial for Robert and Deborah Bellar is scheduled to begin on March 1. Jonathan Bellar is scheduled to appear in court on December 7 for a pretrial conference.