This is a brief initial post on the CSA charge against former United Pentecostal Church minister Kelsey Carlen-St-Clair Cook, born March 22, 1992, of Michigan. This is case 2024-0000001014-FC in the 37th Circuit Court of Calhoun County, MI. Her parents are Gary and Carol Cook, and Gary is pastor of the Apostolic Church of Flat Rock, Michigan, a legally affiliated UPCI church.
Kelsey Cook was very involved in the Apostolic Church of Flat Rock, as well as in mission trips in the UPCI through the Apostolic Youth Corps. Her mission trips go back to at least 2012. She gained notoriety by raising thousands of dollars for their Sheaves For Christ program. She also participated in Bible quizzing and has attended NAYC events.
Kelsey first appeared in the 2021 UPCI Directory with a local license, which is indicative of being licensed in 2020. It then showed her holding general license in the 2022 edition and is last seen in the 2023 UPCI Directory, still with a general license.
The crime she was charged with happened prior to her becoming licensed. (The court record gives a date of on or about June 2017.) Unfortunately, the wording in the question that was asked on the application was, “Have you ever been convicted of or pleaded guilty to child abuse or a crime involving actual or attempted sexual molestation of a minor? If yes, please explain.” As she had not yet been charged with or convicted of her crime, she could honestly answer no.
I have been watching this case since I first learned of it back in late April 2024. I made a brief mention of it in a post from April of last year. Since that time, several people have inquired as to the status of the case and I am happy to report that on the morning of March 6, 2026, on the fourth day of trial, Kelsey Cook was found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 (750.520B2B).
A previous trial was held back in December 2025, but ended in a mistrial before its conclusion.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2026, where she should at least receive the mandatory sentence of 25 years, with lifetime monitoring and a tier III sex offender registration requirement.
Kelsey Cook’s $1,000 surety bond, posted on April 8, 2024, was revoked and she was taken into custody after the verdict. She is being held at the Calhoun County Correctional Facility. Attached is the notice on Vinelink.
More will be shared in a subsequent post. Our hearts go out to the survivor and her family.
See also Part 2 and Part 3, two posts with UPCI pastor Austin Hopper’s statement.
I originally posted about this on March 6, 2026 on our Facebook Page.
You will find a complete list of articles in this series by clicking here.
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