Editor's Note: This article discusses sexual assault. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can call RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. 

KNOX COUNTY, Ohio — Tom Keesee Jr. has pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him including 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.  

What You Need To Know

  • The son of the founders of a mega church in New Albany is being held on a $2 million bond after pleading not guilty to dozens of sex-related charges

  • A grand jury indicted Gary Thomas "Tom" Keesee Jr. on nearly 30 counts April 21

  • According to the indictment, the alleged crimes happened between May 2002 to October 2011

  • The charges are dated beginning in 2002 when Keesee Jr. was about 13 years old and continue through 2011 when he was 22 years old
  • The investigation is ongoing

According to an indictment from a grand jury, several women are accusing Keesee of having sexual relations with them when they were minors more than two decades ago. According to the indictment, the alleged crimes happened between May 2002 when Keesee was about 13 years old and October 2011 when he was 22 years old. 

The judge set bond at $2 million even though the prosecution requested $5 million. The judge also ordered that Keesee’s driver's license and passport be taken away. He'll have to wear a GPS monitoring system and can't have any contact with the victims.

Sam Shamansky, Keesee’s lawyer, told Spectrum News the timing of the alleged crimes may be in his client's favor. 

“You can imagine how hard it is, as you ask, how are you going to disprove all of these allegations? Well, of course, it's the government's burden to prove and beyond a reasonable doubt,” Shamansky said. “But, you know, we, until we look at the statements and cross-reference the times and try to nail it down, you know, who knows? These are very — these cases are fraught with difficulty, for sure, from both sides or for both sides, I should say.”

Jim and Laura Hicks, who said they were members of Faith Life Church, the megachurch that Keesee was the former chief media officer at, spoke with reporters outside the courtroom. The Hicks said they knew the victims personally and foresee more coming forward. They also said they want Keesee’s parents Gary and Drenda, who are the lead pastors of Faith Life Church, to be held accountable. 

“We want to see justice,” Laura Hicks said. “We don't want to see this buried. And we don't want Drenda to be able to use her power to be able to continue to, you know, coerce and manipulate the situation.”

“And I’ll say this, our heart is that the Keesees would come to know the true gospel,” Jim Hicks added. “That it’s not prosperity, it's not about money and that they would come to know God's grace and forgiveness. But alongside that, justice needs to be served.”

Shamasky said he’s hopeful they can pay the bond through cash or property.

The Licking County Sheriff’s Office asked Monday during a press conference that anyone with information or anyone who’s been a victim to come forward. 

Spectrum News will be following this case as the investigation is ongoing.