LifeWise Academy bus, photographed on September 19, 2025. LifeWise is a Hilliard-based religious education program operating in 34 states and planning to enroll nearly 100,000 students in the 2025-2026 school year. (Photo: Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal).
Three Ohio men who previously volunteered or worked for LifeWise Academy, a Christian tutoring program for public school students, were recently charged or pleaded guilty to sex crimes against minors, including rape, voyeurism and sexual battery.
Christopher Riggs and Kenneth Holycross III were LifeWise teachers, and William VanSickle was a LifeWise volunteer.
“LifeWise has not received any reports of misconduct by LifeWise students in connection with these matters or LifeWise operations more broadly,” LifeWise said in a statement.
LifeWise confirmed that each of the men had previous involvement with local LifeWise chapters and all had recently been charged with sex crimes involving minors.
“In each case, at the time of entry into service, the individual completed and passed the required background check process, which revealed no disqualifying offenses or prior criminal history,” LifeWise said in a statement.
LifeWise Academy is a controversial Hilliard-based religious education program for public school students on “religious leave time” that operates in 34 states and educates nearly 100,000 students, according to its website.
LifeWise is a non-denominational Christian program that teaches religion to public school students during the school day at a special time.
Teaching during non-religious time must meet three criteria: classes must take place outside the school premises, be financed from private funds, and students must have their parents’ consent.
LifeWise serves 331 school districts in Ohio — just over half state school districts– says a LifeWise spokesman.
LifeWise has many critics, with parents saying their students have been excluded and bullied not participate in LifeWise.
Earlier this month, Holycross was charged with two counts of rape involving minors under the age of 13 and is currently in custody at the Miami County Jail, according to prosecutors. Miami County Sheriff’s Office. His arrest came after the county sheriff’s office received complaints about the Holycross rape.
There was a Holy Cross formerly a teacher at the local LifeWise Academy Bethel program in Tipp City.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges of rape, which occurred on May 20.
Holycross is also employed part-time as a mental health technician at Dayton Children’s Hospital, he said LinkedIn account. The hospital did not respond to inquiries about Holycross’s employment status.
Riggs pleaded guilty to voyeurism and gross sexual imposition involving a minor Muskingum County Common Pleas Court May 13 and will register as a sex offender. He will be sentenced on July 1.
Court documents show that the crimes occurred in the period from June 1, 2023 to September 23, 2023 and from November 1, 2025 to November 30, 2025.
Riggs was previously a teacher in the LifeWise Tri-Valley program in Muskingum County and was the pastor of Washington Township Baptist Church in Zanesville.
On April 23, in Perry County Common Pleas Court, William VanSickle pleaded guilty to one count of rape and two counts of sexual battery against a minor. According to court documents, the crimes occurred between January 2017 and January 2022.
He will be sentenced on June 1.
VanSickle was previously a volunteer “in limited capacity” through the local LifeWise Northern program in Perry County.
“Any situation involving crimes against minors is deeply disturbing, and the safety and well-being of students is LifeWise’s top priority.”
According to a statement from LifeWise, all LifeWise employees and volunteers undergo background checks and students are not left alone with an adult during LifeWise programming.
The Secular Education Association – the group that linked the men to their previous involvement with LifeWise – is “deeply concerned about these matters,” they said in a statement.
In January 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill passed by Republican lawmakers that requires public school districts to create policies allowing religious exemptions.
Follow Ohio Capital Journal reporter Megan Henry on X Or on Bluesky.
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