MOUNT VERNON — A Knox County commissioner Tuesday said Drenda Keesee must make her own decision about her ability to continue serving on the Board of Commissioners.
“The Board of Commissioners has been asked to comment on the pending proceedings against Commissioner [Drenda] Keesee’s son,” Bill Pursel said in a prepared statement during the board’s meeting.
“This situation is personal to her, and the board will refrain from making any statements,” he said.
“She is an independently elected official, and she alone can determine her ability to serve under these circumstances,” Pursel said.
Keesee, and her husband, Gary Keesee, both attended Tuesday’s meeting. They are co-pastors of the Faith Life Church in New Albany. Drenda Keesee took office in January after winning election in November.
Neither of them commented Wednesday on the allegations against their adult son, Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr., 36, indicted by a Knox County grand jury Monday on 27 counts of sexual abuse charges, including 11 counts of rape.
The younger Keesee was arrested without incident by the Licking County Sheriff’s Office at his home in Johnstown on Friday and is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Knox County Common Pleas Court.
The younger Keesee, the former chief media officer at the church, has remained in the Licking County Justice Center since his arrest.
Keesee was indicted on 11 charges of first-degree rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony.
Special Prosecutor Jenny Wells said at a press conference Monday the victims were members of Faith Life Church.
Keesee resigned as chief media officer at the church in August 2024.
