Catholic Church deacon in Maryland arrested and charged with sex crimes
A deacon for the Catholic Church in Maryland's Harford County has been arrested and charged with two counts of sexual solicitation of a minor, the sheriff's department announced on Thursday.
Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler identified the suspect as 45-year-old Kenneth Goedeke, of Bel Air, Maryland.
Gahler said in a statement that Goedeke was taken into custody by deputies after communicating with an undercover detective whom he believed to be a 15-year-old boy. The suspect then allegedly arrived at a location to engage in sexual activity with the child.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore released a statement confirming that Goedeke served as a Catholic Church deacon and former Catholic school teacher.
Archdiocese of Baltimore statement
"The Archdiocese of Baltimore was informed by the Harford County Sheriff's Office of the arrest of Kenneth Goedeke on charges of soliciting a minor," the statement said. "Goedeke served as a deacon at St. Margaret Parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and began employment at St. Ignatius Church in Hickory in July of 2026. According to communications from law enforcement officials, these charges are not related to anyone at the parishes or schools where he served."
The Archdiocese said Goedeke was ordained as a deacon in 2023. He served at St. Patrick Havre de Grace and St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen before working at St. Margaret Church in Bel Air, beginning in 2025. He also previously worked at St. Isaac Jogues Church from 2005 to 2012 and John Carroll High School from 2020 to 2026.
Sheriff Gahler said he felt "angry, disgusted, and deeply thankful" about the arrest.
Caution urged to parents
"Angry that someone in a position of trust attempted to victimize a child. Disgusted that any adult would ever consider exploiting a child in such a vile and predatory way. And thankful that our detectives acted decisively, intervening before a child was harmed and ensuring that this predator was stopped before he could carry out his intentions," he said in his statement.
Gahler urged parents and caregivers "to talk openly with their children, not only about this case, but about the broader dangers posed by trusted adults who misuse their positions and by online predators who target our youth."
