UPDATE: March 23, 2026, at 10:45 a.m.
Zachary King entered his guilty plea in Fayette Circuit Court before Judge Julie Goodman on Monday morning.
King pleaded guilty to seven charges, including first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means, unlawful transaction with a minor in the first degree involving an illegal controlled substance, third-degree rape, third-degree sodomy, and first-degree sexual abuse.
He received a recommended sentence of 13 years and a 10-year interpersonal protective order. King will also have to register as a sex offender. He is currently out on bond, and his sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 4, 2026.
LEX 18 previously reported that during the investigation into the crimes, LexCity Church, where King had pastored, decided to "permanently cease" ministry in July 2024.
Covering Kentucky
LexCity Church decides to 'permanently cease' ministry
UPDATE: July 5 at 10:55 a.m.
Three days after his arraignment, Zachary King returned to court on Friday morning, where a judge deemed him a potential flight risk.
King and his attorney waived his right to a preliminary hearing, choosing rather to spend the time requesting a reduction of his bond to 10%.
His bond remains at $250,000 and the case will head to a grand jury.
UPDATE:
Zachary King was arraigned in Fayette County District Court Tuesday afternoon.
King's attorney asked the judge to set King's bond at $50,000, and allow him to pay 10 percent of that, $5,000, to get out.
Judge John Tackett instead set the bond at $250,000.
Original Story:
A Lexington pastor was arrested and is facing sexual abuse and exploitation charges involving a minor.
According to an arrest citation, Zachary King consented to an interview with the Department of Criminal Investigations in Attorney General Russell Coleman's Office, in which he stated that he had "engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor over the course of the last year and a half."
The citation goes on to state that King told the investigator that he had "sexual intercourse with the minor starting at age 15 in January 2023, continuing until April 2024."
During the interview, the citation says he also admitted to having "sexual intercourse in the minor's home, at his residence, and at the church where he was a former pastor."
King resigned from his position at the church after being confronted by other church staff regarding the allegations, according to the citation.
The citation also states that King told the investigator that he would call and message the minor using "Snapchat and WhatsApp" to arrange the meetups as well as "receive sexually explicit images of the minor."
LEX 18 discovered past video sermons on YouTube that show King was a pastor at LexCity Church in Lexington.
He is booked in the Fayette County Detention Center and charged with the following:
- procuring or promoting use of minor by electronic means
- first-degree rape
- first-degree sodomy
- third-degree rape
- third-degree sodomy
- first-degree sexual abuse
King will be arraigned at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2.
