Catholic deacon who worked in Harford schools arrested in child sex sting

A man who spent years working inside Harford County’s Catholic churches and schools — ordained as a deacon, trusted with youth ministry, embedded in parish life — was arrested this week after engaging online with an undercover sheriff’s deputy posing as a 15-year-old boy.

Kenneth Goedeke, a deacon in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, was taken into custody by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office as part of a joint sting operation conducted with Chris Hansen’s team from the show “Takedown,” which spent a week filming in the county. The arrest was announced Wednesday, August 6.

“These charges are deeply troubling,” Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler said. “Once again, we are facing a situation involving a trusted community member, someone responsible for guiding and safeguarding youth, attempting to exploit a minor.”

Goedeke’s access to children and families was extensive. He was ordained as a deacon in 2023 and, according to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, served at St. Patrick in Havre de Grace, St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen, and St. Margaret Parish in Bel Air beginning in 2025. He began employment at St. Ignatius Church in Hickory as recently as July 2026 — one month before his arrest. The archdiocese also lists his employment at John Carroll High School in Bel Air from 2020 to 2026.

John Carroll officials told local media Goedeke has not been employed there since February and currently has no ties to the school. The school has not explained publicly why his employment ended or whether it is connected to this investigation.

Goedeke also worked at St. Isaac Jogues Church from 2005 to 2012, giving him more than two decades of presence within Catholic institutions in the region.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore said it was informed of the arrest by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. It moved to remove Goedeke’s faculties to function as a deacon and suspended him from ministry and employment, pending a full investigation. The archdiocese stated the charges are not related to anyone at the parishes or schools where Goedeke served, citing communications from law enforcement.

The archdiocese also noted it completed a thorough employment screening before Goedeke’s hiring and before his enrollment as a deacon candidate, including an FBI fingerprint criminal history check and a comprehensive background and reference check.

What those screenings could not have caught, of course, is what allegedly happened after he was already inside.

Gahler pointed to something that distinguished this operation from the two prior “Takedown” stings run in Harford County. In those earlier operations, most of the men caught had traveled from outside the county or state. This time was different.

“Unlike our first two operations, where most offenders traveled from outside the county or state, this operation revealed individuals living, working, and volunteering right here in our community,” Gahler said.

Goedeke was not the only arrest connected to the operation. Robert “Joe” Swarthout, a 41-year-old Fallston resident, was announced on two felony counts related to solicitation of a minor.

Anyone with information related to the investigation can contact the Harford County Sheriff’s Office tip line at cactips@harfordsheriff.org. The Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Office of Child and Youth Protection can be reached at 1-866-417-7469 or 410-547-5348.

⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.