Son of Prominent Megachurch Pastor Charged With 27 Sex Crimes, Including 11 Counts of Rape
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The son of prominent megachurch pastors has been charged with 27 sex crimes, including 11 counts of rape.
Tom Keesee is the 36-year-old son of Gary and Drenda Keesee, the founders and senior pastors of Faith Life Church in New Albany, Ohio. Keesee was employed at the 3000-member megachurch as their chief media officer when police arrested him after multiple allegations of sexual abuse were brought against him, including by his own sister.
During a press conference on Monday, the Licking County Sheriffs office revealed that a grand jury indicted Tom on 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition, and 5 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
They say Keesee had at least three victims who were all members of the church and who were between the ages of 6 and 10 when the molestations started. In some cases, the sexual abused last for more than five years.
Along with the three victims, Tom has also been accused of sexually assaulting his ex-wife’s sister, as well as engaging in a sexual relationship with his current while she was still a minor.
Prior to the indictment, and after their daughter came forward with allegations against her brother, pastors Gary and Drenda Keesee defended their son and argued that there was “another side of the story.”
They told church members during one of their services: “All hell is breaking loose out there … but truth will prevail. There’s another side. And the truth will come out.”
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