Probation For Ex-Deerfield Pastor Who Confessed To Touching Teen

DEERFIELD, IL — A former pastor at a Deerfield church who walked into the Deerfield Police Department and confessed to an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl two years ago has been sentenced to two years of probation in exchange for his guilty plea.

Samuel J. Kee, now 41, had been a pastor at North Suburban Free Evangelical Church for five years when he told police he had fondled a teenage girl who was a member of his congregation. He was arrested the next day after police tracked down the victim and confirmed the abuse.

Kee, a Lake Zurich resident, resigned his position as pastor of teaching of discipleship from the church 11 days later. The church said it was fully cooperating with police at the time.

He initially pleaded not guilty, but last March prosecutors announced he would not face trial and undergo evaluation instead.

Charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse — because Kee was more than five years older and in a position of trust with his victim — were dropped, court records show.

Under the terms of his probation, Kee has been registered as a child sex offender. He must not have contact with minors, faces random testing for drugs and alcohol and has restricted use of the internet. Kee was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service.

Kee was also sentenced to one year of periodic imprisonment by Lake County Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti, which will be stayed if he follows all of the terms of his sentence, the Lake County News-Sun reported. Assistant State's Attorney Jason Grindel said all the charges Kee faced were eligible to receive sentences of probation.

Kee is the author of two books, the most recent of which identifies him as the founder of Hope Stands Ministry, in addition to his post with the Deerfield church and various other positions.

His mission in life is to rid the world of hopelessness through the message of God’s love. Growing up in a rural part of Northeastern Ohio in a family of artists, Kee worked on wrecked cars with his dad and often wrote poetry with his mom. He wrestled from his elementary years into college and helped build log homes.

Kee also posted blog, audio and video posts regularly on websites that have been deleted since his arrest. In one post the summer after the instance of inappropriate touching to which he confessed, he wrote about a biblical parable of Paul staying positive while in prison.

In fact, he ended up serving only two days in jail before posting $30,000 cash for bail.

Related:

• Pastor Tells Police He Fondled Teenage Girl
• Ex-Pastor Pleads Not Guilty to Charges He Sexually Abused Teen Girl at Church
• Ex-Deerfield Pastor Might Not Face Trial in Teen Sex Abuse Case