Grand Jury Indicts McKee for Alleged Rape, Sodomy, Sexual Abuse, and Incest with Minor

John W. Erkfitz, 68, of McKee, KY is scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Oscar Gayle House in Circuit Court on March 03, 2026 for alleged sex-related crimes. A Grand Jury returned an indictment (26-CR-00012) on February 03rd, 2026. The indictment charges Erkfitz with Rape, 1st degree (3 counts), sodomy, 1st degree (3 counts), sexual abuse, 1st degree (3 counts), and Incest – forcible compulsion without consent (3 counts).

Erkfitz first appeared before Judge Henria Bailey-Lewis in District Court on November 17, 2025 for arraignment in Case #25-F-00137. Erkfitz was arrested on November 13, 2025 by the Berea Police Department when they executed Complaint Warrant #E05510005094412 for the Jackson County Court.

Deputy Christian Collins (JCSO) obtained the complaint warrant on November 13, 2025. The complaint warrant alleges that Erkfitz unlawfully had sexual intercourse and deviant sexual intercourse, as defined in KRS 510.010 with a person he knew to be his parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent, great-grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, brother, sister, first cousin, ancestor, or descendant.

Erkfitz allegedly had sexual intercourse and deviant sexual intercourse without consent, by forcible compulsion, with a person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age by a person three (3) years older, on multiple occasions over the past two years, when the alleged victim was between the ages of 12 – 14 years of age.

The complaint warrant alleges that being twenty-one (21) years old or more, Erkfitz subjected another person who is less than sixteen (16) years old to sexual contact, and, engaged in masturbation in the presence of a person who is less than sixteen (16) when he knew or has reason to know that the other person is present. The complaint warrant alleges that Erkfitz engaged in sexual intercourse with a person by forcible compulsion.

Erkfitz has been charged with rape, 1st degree, sodomy, 1st degree, sexual abuse, 1st degree, and incest – forcible compulsion/incapable of or without consent.

At the arraignment in District Court, Erkfitz entered pleas of not guilty for all charges. Subsequent to a preliminary hearing on November 24, 2025 probable cause was determined to be found and the case was sent to a Grand Jury. The Grand Jury returned Indictment #26-CR-00012 and, thus, the case continues in Circuit Court at the beginning of March 2026.

Erkfitz remains in custody at the Jackson County Detention Center under a $100,000 cash bond.

As in all cases at this stage of adjudication, the charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until provided due process and determined to be guilty by the court.