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Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr. has waived his right to a jury trial in his Knox County sex-crimes case, meaning the case will now be decided by Knox County Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel.
Keesee’s bench trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday, September 30, at 9 a.m. in Knox County Common Pleas Court in Mount Vernon.
The trial comes more than a year after Keesee was indicted and after several previous changes to the court schedule. The case was originally set for trial in July 2025 before being continued. A May 2026 trial date was instead converted into an evidentiary hearing, and the court later set September 29 as the trial date.
Keesee currently faces 32 felony counts stemming from allegations involving four victims who prosecutors say were minors at the time of the alleged offenses. The charges are:
13 counts of rape, all first-degree felonies
14 counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies
5 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, fourth-degree felonies
The additional five counts were added in May 2025 through a superseding indictment after a fourth alleged victim came forward. That brought the case from its original 27 counts to the current 32.
According to previously reported court and investigative information, prosecutors allege the offenses occurred over an extended period beginning in 2001 and continuing into the following years. The alleged victims were between 6 and 15 years old at the time of the alleged offenses. All four victims had connections to Faith Life Church, where Keesee was previously involved. The original indictment returned in April 2025 contained 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
A Knox County grand jury subsequently added two rape counts and three gross sexual imposition counts. The investigation was ultimately led by the Licking County Sheriff’s Office after the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation did not take the lead because of potential conflicts of interest. The Licking County Prosecutor’s Office has served as special prosecutor in the case.
With Keesee waiving a jury, Judge Wetzel will hear the evidence and determine whether the prosecution has proven each charge beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution is expected to present evidence from investigators, witnesses and the alleged victims. The defense will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and present its own case. Keesee has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The allegations remain allegations unless and until they are proven in court.
The bench trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Knox County Common Pleas Court, 111 East High Street in Mount Vernon. Knox County Common Pleas Court.
