NEWARK — The former chief media officer for Faith Life Church will remain in the Licking County jail until his bond hearing and arraignment in Knox County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Licking County detectives arrested Gary Thomas Keesee Jr. at his Johnstown home without incident on Friday. He was taken into custody on a warrant with two, first-degree felony rape allegations. He spent the weekend in the Licking County Justice Center.
Monday morning, a Knox County Grand Jury indicted Keesee on 27 counts, including 11 charges of first-degree rape.
The indictment also included 11 counts of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony.
At a press conference at the Licking County Justice Center on Monday afternoon, Licking County Prosecutor Jenny Wells said she considers Keesee a flight risk.
“I would certainly make that argument that he is considered a flight risk given the serious nature of these charges, one of which carries a 10-year mandatory to life in prison if convicted,” she said.
Lt. Gus Moore of the Licking County Sheriff’s Office said Keesee is on suicide watch while he remains in jail.
Knox County online records list Columbus attorney Samuel H. Shamansky II as Keesee’s defense attorney.
“We will plead not guilty to every single charge in the indictment and fight every false allegation tooth and nail,” Shamansky said Monday evening.
Shamansky earned notoriety two years ago in central Ohio after successfully defending two Ohio State football players in a high-profile rape case. Both players, Amir Riep and Jahsen Wint, were found not guilty on February, 2023.
Keesee resigned from his position as chief media officer at the church in August 2024.
Special counsel appointed
Knox County Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel appointed Wells as special counsel in the case because Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville said he cannot prosecute due to a conflict of interest.
McConville represents the Knox County Board of Commissioners. Keesee is the son of Knox County Commissioner Drenda Keesee.
Commissioner Keesee and her husband, Gary Sr., are co-pastors of Faith Life Church.
The Licking County prosecutor subpoenaed Commissioner Keesee and Gary Sr. to appear before the grand jury.
Wells said she made a prosecutorial decision to seek information from them to the grand jury because they had not previously provided a statement. She declined to answer when asked what information the two may have provided to the grand jury.
“Law enforcement is still investigating, so they’re still continuing to work on this case and do other things, but for court, it will be the arraignment and the bond hearing on Wednesday, and then the case will be set for trial,” Wells said.
Wells commended the Licking County Sheriff’s Office for its extensive investigation, which led to the case briefing presented to the grand jury.
“They did a thorough investigation that took them to multiple states and led them to tracking down somewhere near 40 witnesses that they’ve interviewed,” she said.
Of the three victims who came forward and filed sexual abuse allegations, Wells said, “These courageous young women have spoken out and come forward, and they are to be commended for their bravery and supported.”
Alleged offenses committed as a minor
Some of the charges the grand jury returned indictments on allegedly occurred while Keesee was under the age of 18.
According to the indictment, 10 counts of abuse allegedly occurred between May 31, 2002, and May 30, 2003. Keesee would have been 15 years old at the time.
Nine allegedly occurred between Oct. 10, 2002, and Nov. 22, 2006, when Keesee was still a minor.
Eight incidents allegedly occurred between Nov. 26, 2006, and Oct. 9, 2011.
Keesee turned 18 years old on Nov. 23, 2006.
“Since he is over the age of 21, common pleas court has jurisdiction on all those offenses, so it just goes along with the adult charges as well,” Wells said. “Then the court takes that into consideration at the time of sentencing after trial.”
A first-degree felony committed before March 22, 2019, carries a prison term of three to 11 years. If the felony involves a minor under age 13, the penalty is 10 years to life.
Third-degree felonies carry a definite prison term of 12 to 60 months.
Fourth-degree felonies carry a prison term of six to 18 months.
If Keesee is convicted on any of the charges, a judge would have to determine if sentences would be served consecutively or concurrently.