Former Deerfield pastor charged with sex abuse may avoid trial

By Karen Berkowitz
Chicago Tribune
March 29, 2016

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/deerfield/news/ct-hpn-sam-kee-sex-abuse-tl-0331-20160329-story.html

Samuel Kee, a former Deerfield church pastor, pleaded not guilty to felony sex charges involving the alleged abuse of a minor.

A former Deerfield pastor charged with the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl will be undergoing an evaluation, and it's likely his criminal case will be resolved without a trial, a Lake County prosecutor said Tuesday.

Assistant State's Attorney Jason Grindel provided the update to Lake County Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti during a status hearing for Samuel Kee, who is charged with criminal sexual abuse of a minor.

Kee, 39, was pastor of teaching and discipleship at the North Suburban Evangelical Free Church in Deerfield on Oct. 14, 2015, when he voluntarily walked into the Deerfield police station to confess to an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl in the summer of 2014. Kee was charged Oct. 15, 2015, and pleaded not guilty during a court appearance.

Police said he admitted to touching the girl, who attended the church, in inappropriate places on her body.

Kee, of Lake Zurich, appeared in court Tuesday. His trial was set for June 27. Grindel said the victim is away at college.

Kee resigned his church position on Oct. 25, about 11 days after he reported the relationship to police. He had served as pastor for five years.

His defense attorney, Charles Schneider, asked Rossetti to reduce Kee's $300,000 bond to $150,000 so that $15,000 of the $30,000 he originally posted could be returned. Rossetti agreed to the request.