Son of New Albany church leaders pleads not guilty to new rape charges
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The son of a New Albany church's leaders pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to additional charges including rape, according to court documents.
Gary Keesee Jr., the son of Faith Life Church senior pastors Gary and Drenda Keesee, pleaded not guilty to charges contained in a superseding indictment that was filed in May. He previously pleaded not guilty to the original charges in April. Watch previous coverage in the player above.
Keesee Jr.'s previously issued $2 million bond with no 10% provision was continued, according to the documents. He must deposit $5,000 to the Clerk's office for a GPS monitoring device before he can leave jail, and is not allowed to have contact with the alleged victims. He must also surrender his driver's license and passport.
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On April 21, Keesee Jr., 36, was indicted on 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Keesee Jr., a former member of the church staff, was arrested 10 days prior in Johnstown by deputies with the Licking County Sheriff's Office. At the time of his arrest, he was charged with two counts of rape out of Mount Vernon Municipal Court.
The date range for the charges spans from 2001 to 2012 with a Licking County prosecutor saying the ages of the victims ranged from 6 to 15 at the time of the alleged offenses.
The superseding indictment lists the 32 total allegations along with the following date ranges:
Dates
Charge (counts)
Nov. 2001-May 2004
Rape (5)
Nov. 2001-May 2004
Gross sexual imposition (5)
Oct. 2002 – Nov. 2006
Rape (5)
Oct. 2002 – Nov. 2006
Gross sexual imposition (3)
Dec. 2004 – Nov. 2006
Gross sexual imposition (1)
Nov. 2006 – Oct. 2008
Rape (1)
Nov. 2006 – Oct. 2008
Gross sexual imposition (2)
Oct. 2008 – Oct. 2011
Unlawful sexual conduct with minor (5)
June 2008 – June 2012
Rape (2)
June 2008 – June 2012
Gross sexual imposition (3)
In February, the Knox County Sheriff's Office asked the Licking County Sheriff's Office to investigate the church for allegations of sexual abuse of minors because Drenda Keesee serves as a Knox County commissioner.
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Drenda Keesee has also published several books, including one titled 'They Are Coming For Your Children,' which is described as 'a wake-up call to parents and the nation to confront and combat what is nothing less than every offensive evil that hell can unleash against the children of this generation. From transgenderism, to critical race theory to sex-trafficking, satan is bent on destroying this generation because they are destined to bring in worldwide revival and usher in the return of Jesus Christ.'
Keesee Jr.'s jury trial is expected to begin on July 1, according to the Knox County Clerk's office.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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