Pastor Sentenced for Sex Crimes

AG: Kentucky News Releases

Filed March 23rd, 2026

Detected March 24th, 2026

Summary

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that former pastor Zachary King was sentenced to 13 years in prison for sex crimes against a minor church member. King pleaded guilty to seven felony counts and must register as a lifetime sex offender.

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What changed

The Kentucky Attorney General's Office has secured a 13-year prison sentence for Zachary King, former executive pastor of LexCity Church, on charges including Rape First Degree and Sodomy First Degree. King pleaded guilty to seven felony counts related to the abuse of a minor church member. The case was investigated by the Attorney General's Department of Criminal Investigations with support from the Lexington Police Department.

King must register as a lifetime sex offender and is subject to a 10-year no-contact order with the victim. This action highlights the consequences for individuals who abuse positions of spiritual trust and prey on vulnerable individuals. The sentence aims to protect the public from further abuse by this individual.

What to do next

Review internal controls for safeguarding minors within religious organizations.
Ensure compliance with sex offender registration requirements for relevant personnel.
Consult with legal counsel regarding reporting obligations for suspected child abuse.

Penalties

13 years imprisonment, lifetime sex offender registration, 10-year no-contact order with victim.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General’s Office Secures Prison Sentence for Former Lexington Pastor

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 23, 2026) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today that action from the Attorney General’s Office will send a former Lexington pastor to prison on charges related to the rape of a young church member.

Zachary King, 48, the former executive pastor of LexCity Church, pleaded guilty to seven felony counts in Fayette Circuit Court on Monday. King pleaded guilty to Rape First Degree (Class B Felony), Sodomy First Degree (Class B Felony), Unlawful Use of Electronic Means to Induce a Minor to Engage in Sexual or Other Prohibited Activities (Class B Felony), Unlawful Transaction with A Minor First Degree with a Victim Under 18 (Class C Felony), Rape Third Degree (Class D Felony), Sodomy Third Degree (Class D Felony) and Sexual Abuse First Degree (Class D Felony).

The victim, who attended King’s church, was a minor at the time the abuse occurred. According to court documents, King restrained her on one occasion to rape and sodomize her and on at least one other occasion raped and sodomized her. A Fayette County Grand Jury indicted King in August 2024.

As part of a plea deal, King received a recommended sentence of 13 years and must register as a lifetime sex offender. He has also been ordered not to have any contact with the victim for the next 10 years and will not object to a renewal of that no contact order.

Click here for King’s photo.

“This so-called pastor’s abuse of his position of spiritual trust to prey on a young victim was heartbreaking,” said Attorney General Coleman. “We are sending this predator to prison to protect more Kentuckians from horrific abuse.”

The Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) investigated the case with support from the Lexington Police Department. Assistant Attorneys General Todd Willard and Amanda Morgan prosecuted the case. Erica Paske, with the Attorney General’s Office of Victims Advocacy, provided services to the victim.

King will be sentenced June 4 th at 11:30 a.m.