Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 5 am on Nov. 7 to reflect that Gary Thomas Keesee Jr. posted the $100,000 bond.
MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel reduced the bond for Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr. to $1 million with a 10% provision during a hearing on Thursday.
Keesee is accused of sexually assaulting four victims between 2001 and 2023.
Wetzel previously set the bond at $2 million with no 10% provision.
Under the bond conditions, Keesee is required to report weekly to a probation officer. He also must wear and pay $1,500 for an electric monitoring device and have no contact with his accusers.
He already surrendered his driver’s license and passport.
Keesee posted a $100,000 bond on Thursday and paid $1,500 for the monitor.
Keesee case
- Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr., 36, a former Faith Life Church official faces 32 sexual-abuse counts, including 13 first-degree felonies, 14 third-degree felonies and five fourth-degree allegations.
- The suspect is the son of Gary and Drenda Keesee, co-pastors of the church based in New Albany. Drenda Keesee is also a Knox County commissioner.
- “Tom” Keesee resigned his church post in August 2024.
- Authorities said the crimes alleged did not happen in the church.
A Knox County grand jury indicted the 36-year-old Keesee on 27 counts of sexual abuse on April 21.
Charges include 11 counts of first-degree rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition, and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
On May 19, the grand jury indicted the former chief media officer for Faith Life Church on five additional counts: two counts of rape and three counts of gross sexual imposition.
Keesee’s attorney, Samuel Shamansky, asked for the reduced bond after recordings surfaced of conversations between two of the alleged victims in the case.
Licking County Prosecutor Jenny Wells said her office became aware of the recordings in October. The conversations occurred in January.
The Licking County Sheriff’s Office obtained the recordings from the witness and turned them over to the prosecutor’s office.
A copy was sent to Shamansky on Oct. 24. Shamansky received it on Oct. 27.
However, he was involved in a jury trial in Cleveland and did not have time to examine them in-depth until Nov. 1. That trial ended on Nov. 5.
Shamansky said the recordings make it apparent the alleged victims are discussing strategy, testimony, talking about defamation, and other aspects of the case.
“Those are all important impeachment material for sure,” Shamansky said. “But the broader concern is what else is there? Under what circumstances were these recordings made, by whom, and with whose permission? And how long as Capt. Cook known of their existence?”
Capt. Jay Cook of the Licking County Sheriff’s Office is one of the lead investigators in the Keesee case.
Additionally, Shamansky said it is not known if there are other recordings. Wells said the witness said there was not.
The two alleged victims account for 26 of the counts against Keesee. Shamansky said he now must subpoena phone records “from every single cell phone carrier we can think of as well as Facebook” to see if the person who reported the phone calls has been in conversation with other alleged victims in the indictment.
“It’s not much of a leap to believe if two of the witnesses are in communication, there’s a likelihood they have been with others,” he said.
“Certainly, as a lawyer, we need to explore that possibility that these folks are all talking.”
Keesee’s trial was scheduled to start on Nov. 18. Shamansky asked for a continuance because there was not enough time in 13 days to subpoena phone records, digest and synthesize the information, and develop an appropriate defense plan.
Additionally, Shamansky said the indictments allege broad periods of time. However, the two alleged victims mention specific dates in their recorded conversation.
Alibi notice
- An alibi notice is a legal document filed by a criminal defendant to inform the prosecution that they intend to use an alibi as a defense.
- It specifies that the defendant was somewhere else when the crime occurred and provides details, such as the location and witness information, to support this claim.
- This notice is a strategic move to prove the defendant’s innocence and requires evidence to be credible.
It is unclear whether Wells is including those dates as part of the state’s case. Shamansky said not knowing makes it difficult to file an alibi notice.
Wetzel asked Wells to contact the other alleged victims to determine whether they are aware of any other recordings or communications.
Wells opposed the bond reduction because no conditions or circumstances have changed. She also asked Wetzel to delay ruling on Shamansky’s request for a continuance.
Wetzel declined to continue the case at this time as he wanted to give the attorneys time to discuss these issues.
Keesee is the son of Gary and Drenda Keesee, founders of Faith Life Church in New Albany. Drenda Keesee is also a Knox County Commissioner.
