The bench trial of accused rapist Gary Keesee Jr. concluded Tuesday with closing statements in Knox County Common Pleas Court.
Judge Richard Wetzel is expected to announce his verdict on Nov. 6.
Keesee faces 27 charges, including 11 rape charges and charges of gross sexual imposition and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Three women accuse Keesee of abusing them between the early 2000s and about 2012, when they were as young as six years old.
Gary Keesee Jr. had been facing several additional charges from an alleged fourth victim, but those were dropped this week when the woman was unable to finish her testimony.
Keesee is now in his late 30s. His attorney, Sam Shamansky, said Keesee was wrongly accused and that the charges came out of the "proverbial woodwork 20 years later."
"We believe that the evidence falls incredibly short of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and that the appropriate verdict is not guilty on all counts," Shamansky said.
Shamansky accused the women of lying and said their testimony was full of "inconsistencies" and "absurdities."
The three women were members of Faith Life Church in Licking County. Keesee's mother, Drenda Keesee, and father, who is also named Gary, lead the church.
Drenda Keesee is also a Knox County Commissioner.
The Licking County Prosecutor's Office tried the case. Prosecutor Jenny Wells could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday.
