Megachurch Founder’s Son Indicted on 27 Charges of Sexual Abuse

Alleged victims claim they were as young as 5 years old

An Ohio grand jury has indicted the son of Faith Life Church leaders Gary and Drenda Keesee on 27 counts related to sexually abusing minors.

Gary and Drenda Keesee, Video screenshot / Insert of Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee, mugshot

On Monday, April 21, the jury charged Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr. for crimes that allegedly happened between May 2002 and October 2011, including those against his own younger sister.

Out of the 27 charges, 11 counts are of first-degree felony rape and third-degree felony gross sexual imposition.

Police arrested Keesee last Friday. Licking County officials, including the sheriff and prosecuting attorney Jenny Wells, held a press conference following Monday’s indictment. During the conference, the officials said they talked to about 40 witnesses in the last month—some current and former members of Faith Life Church.

The Licking County Sheriff’s Office launched a criminal investigation in February 2025 after multiple women, including Gary and Dendra Keesee’s daughter, accused former Chief Media Officer Tom Keesee and another former youth leader of sexually abusing them. Tom Keesee stepped down as chief media officer in August 2024.

Some of the women—estimated to total at least 11—claim they were minors at the time of the abuse. 10TV reported that the victim who made the initial report said the abuse occurred when they were 5 and 6 years old and took place on more than 50 occasions. During the investigation, two other victims came forward, accusing Keesee Jr. of sexual abuse.

Tom Keesee’s inmate records include a charge of non-forcible rape of a victim less than 13 years old.

MinistryWatch earlier reported that one of the women initially sought help from the Knox County Sheriff’s office but was told that Sheriff Daniel Weckesser would not investigate due to a conflict of interest. The conflict was related to Faith Life’s co-pastor, Drenda Keesee, who recently began her first term as a Knox County commissioner.

The Sheriff’s Office referred the woman to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office instead. Yost’s office then said he, too, had a conflict, being friends with Keesee, and would not take the case.

Yost publicly addressed the conflict of interest, acknowledging a friendship with Dendra Keesee.

Per his suggestion, Sheriff Weckesser referred the case to Licking County.

A law firm representing Faith Life Church sent a statement to 10TV on the church’s behalf. In the statement, the firm said the alleged incidents occurred “approximately two decades ago that in no way involved Faith Life Church.” The church claimed in the statement that they responded in accordance with the information available to them at the time and will remain committed to transparency and truth.

The indictment is yet another wave of scrutiny against Faith Life Church and its founding couple. The church faces mounting scrutiny as the current abuse scandal has rehashed an earlier financial investigation and widespread criticism over its use of employee non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

The Licking County Sheriff’s Office said they are holding Keesee at the Licking County Justice Center. The office will host another press conference with the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, April 28.

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