Knox County Judge Richard Wetzel will announce a verdict Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. in the rape trial of Gary "Tom" Keesee Jr., a Former Faith Life Church chief media officer.

Closing arguments wrapped up Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Knox County Common Pleas Court, capping four days of testimony from 11 witnesses, including three of the four women who accused Keesee Jr. of sexually assaulting them as minors between 2001 and 2012, as Fox 28 Columbus reported.

Keesee Jr. waived his right to a jury trial. Wetzel will decide the case alone.

Faith Life Church, a non-denominational congregation led by Gary and Drenda Keesee, opened a Powell location in 2020 and also operates Guardian Academy, a school. Drenda Keesee has served as a Knox County commissioner since 2025.

Keesee Jr. now faces 27 charges: 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of gross sexual imposition and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with minors. He pleaded not guilty to those charges.

A Knox County grand jury initially indicted him on 27 counts in April 2025. A second grand jury added five more counts in May 2025 after a fourth accuser came forward, bringing the total to 32.

Five of those charges were dropped Monday, Oct. 5, after the fourth accuser was unable to finish her testimony and could not return for cross-examination. Wetzel also struck portions of expert witness Carrie Schnirring's testimony related to that accuser.

Licking County Prosecutor Jenny Wells, serving as special prosecuting attorney, asked Wetzel to convict on all 27 remaining counts. Licking County authorities took over after Knox County authorities and the Ohio attorney general’s office cited conflicts of interest.

Wells told the judge the alleged victims described abuse at the Keesee family's Mount Vernon property and at the victims' homes. None of the alleged abuse occurred at Faith Life Church, though conversations about the assaults did take place there, Fox 28 reported.

"This case comes down to whether or not you believe these victims," Wells said during closing arguments.

Defense attorney Sam Shamansky argued the prosecution did not meet its burden of proof. He cited the absence of a family note allegedly sent by one accuser, no pediatrician records indicating abuse and no counseling records that would corroborate testimony. Shamansky also argued one accuser's account of an incident on a dirt bike was physically impossible because the throttle is on the right side of the bike.

"What you do not have is proof beyond a reasonable doubt," Shamansky told the judge, according to Knox Pages. Keesee Jr. is also represented by attorney Karena Reusser.

Two of the accusers and their spouses were present in the courtroom Tuesday. Most spectators in the gallery told ABC 6 they once attended Faith Life Church but had left for personal reasons. Keesee Jr.'s wife, Alexis Keesee, and a small group of supporters attended daily throughout the trial.

Both sides now have 14 days to file written briefs, with rebuttal briefs due seven days after that. If convicted on all counts, Keesee Jr. could face multiple life sentences.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, the Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO) operates a 24-hour helpline at (614) 267-7020 or toll-free at (844) 644-6435.