A former pastor from Lexington has pleaded guilty to multiple serious charges involving the sexual abuse of a minor, according to reports.
Zachary King, 48, entered his guilty plea on Monday in Fayette Circuit Court. The charges include first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree rape, third-degree sodomy, unlawful transaction with a minor, and promoting the use of a minor through electronic means.
Prosecutors recommended a sentence of 13 years in prison.
Authorities arrested King in July 2024 after an investigation revealed he had abused a 15-year-old over an extended period, from January 2023 through April 2024. Court records indicate the incidents occurred at multiple locations, including the pastor’s home, the victim’s residence, and the church where he previously served.
King formerly led LexCity Church, which was previously known as Quest. According to documents, he resigned after church staff confronted him about the allegations.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4, court records show.
Following his arrest, the church announced it would permanently close. The property has since been repurposed and is now used by a Ukrainian Pentecostal congregation as well as a local affordable housing developer that constructed a 45-unit apartment complex for senior residents.