A Casey County Circuit Court jury found Andrew D. Kerekes, age 36, guilty of six (6) counts of First-Degree Sexual Abuse late Thursday (November 2, 2023) following a threeday jury trial. The jury recommended that Kerekes serve 30 years in prison.

According to testimony at trial, Kerekes sexually abused a 15-year-old girl multiple times between October 2019 and December 2019 at a residence in Casey County. Kerekes met the child when the child traveled out of state for a summer youth trip through a local church. Kerekes, who is from Hawaii, later came to Casey County and stayed with the child’s family to assist her with a musical project. However, Kerekes began a relationship with the child and eventually began to sexually abuse her. The case was investigated by Kentucky State Police Detective Josh Dicken.

The jury convicted Kerekes of all six (6) counts that he was charged with and the jury recommended that he serve the maximum sentence – five (5) years – for each count. The jury further recommended that the sentences be served consecutively (one after the other), for a total of thirty (30) years in prison.

Under Kentucky law, Kerekes will be eligible for parole after he has served twenty percent (20%) of his sentence. Additionally, Kerekes will be required to complete a sex offender treatment program and will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Wright prosecuted the case. After the trial, Wright thanked Det. Dicken for his efforts investigating the case – including collaborating with Kentucky’s social services agency as well as officers in other states that assisted in the investigation of the case.

Wright also thanked the members of the jury for their attention during the trial and for ensuring that justice was served in this case. Wright added, “protecting the children in this community is one of the top priorities of my office. I will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who abuses a child in this county.”

Kerekes, who was represented at trial by attorney James Cox from Mt. Vernon, will appear for final sentencing on January 19, 2024. Judge Samuel Todd Spalding from Marion County was appointed as special judge in the case and presided over the trial.