MOUNT VERNON — The rape trial of a former chief media officer at Faith Life Church accused of multiple counts of sexual abuse has been rescheduled to Nov. 18. The original trial date was July 1.
Defense Attorney Samuel Shamansky filed a motion on June 26 to delay the trial for Gary Thomas Keesee Jr. Shamansky stated he needed more time to prepare.
Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel granted the motion on June 30.
Special Prosecutor Jenny Wells did not oppose Shamansky’s request.
Gary Thomas Keesee Jr. is the son of Knox County Commissioner Drenda Keesee and Gary Keesee Sr.
Drenda and Gary Sr. are lead pastors at Faith Life Church in New Albany. None of the alleged incidents occurred at the church.
Keesee, 36, was indicted on April 21 on 11 counts of first-degree rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition, and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Three victims alleged Keesee sexually abused them at residences in Knox County. All of the victims were minors at the time, ranging in age from 5 to 10 when the abuse started.
On May 19, a Knox County Grand Jury indicted Keesee on five additional counts: two counts of rape and three counts of gross sexual imposition. Those alleged incidents also took place in Knox County.
Capt. Jay Cook of the Licking County Sheriff’s Office previously said the additional counts stem from a fourth victim coming forward.
Amended indictment
Counts one through 27 allegedly occurred between May 31, 2002, and Oct. 9, 2011. According to the initial indictment, counts 28 through 32 allegedly occurred from June 30, 2008, to June 29, 2012.
On June 27, Wells filed a motion to amend the dates for counts 28-32 to “on or about June 30, 2008, to June 29, 2016.”
According to the amendment, as Darcy Cook, assistant Licking County prosecutor, met with the victim of these counts and another witness on June 23 for trial preparations, “it became clear that amending the date range is necessary.”
The motion states the factual allegations remain unchanged, but the State seeks to amend the date range to align with the evidence presented at trial.
Judge Wetzel granted the request.
Keesee remains in the Licking County Justice Center on a $2 million bond.
Subpoenas issued
In preparation for the July 1 trial date, Wells issued subpoenas to 16 individuals.
In addition to Capt. Jay Cook, Capt. Gus Moore, and Detective William Bowman of the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, Wells issued a subpoena to Columbus Police Detective David Berger.
According to documents received from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Berger reached out to Columbus Police Det. Brian Sheline for guidance in mid-December 2024, after learning online about a possible sexual abuse situation.
Sheline forwarded the information to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, which opened an investigation. The Licking County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation because the Knox County Board of Commissioners oversees the KCSO’s budget, creating a conflict of interest.
Wells also subpoenaed:
•The four alleged victims
•Patty Workman, Cameron, N.C.
•Nathan Wooten, Apex, N.C., former employee at Faith Life Church
•Clayton Boley, Joshua, Texas, former Faith Life Church member
•Linda Wilford, Johnstown
•Mark Wilford, Johnstown
•Amy Freudiger, Johnstown, worship pastor at Faith Life Church and daughter of Drenda and Gary Keesee Sr.
•Elijah McKinney, Granville, son-in-law of Drenda and Gary Keesee Sr.
•Polly Patten, Alexandria, daughter of Drenda and Gary Keesee Sr.
•Carrie Schnirring, Lighthouse Family Center Ltd, Canton
