‘I’m a slave no more,’ says drug court grad

Steve Keller knows his life today is very different from the one he led two years ago.
“I’ve gone from a drug-addicted person who was selling to support his habit to a person who is free from drug addiction,” said Keller.
In July of 2019, Keller was arrested on two felony drug charges for possession and the sale of methamphetamines. He was facing 65 months in prison on each count if convicted.
Last week, he graduated from the Steele-Waseca Drug Court.
“I am so grateful,” he said during his Zoom graduation ceremony.
“I’m supposed to be in prison. Instead, I’m married with three kids and am a resident pastor at a church.”
Since its inception in July 2014, the local drug court program has served 209 participants, with 102 of them either withdrawing or being terminated because of new criminal behavior or rejection of services.
Keller is the 69th person to graduate from the Steele-Waseca Drug Court.
“Steven has found his passion – a role in the church – and a strong faith-based community to support his recovery efforts and dramatically change his pathway in life,” said Nicole Grams, drug court coordinator.
And he did it in 18 months, the minimum amount of time required to complete the program. Keller will be on probation for five years. With no probation violations, his felony conviction will be dropped to a misdemeanor after five years.
“Not only did God save me from going to prison, but I won’t have a felony on my record,” said Keller.
In January 2020, while in the drug court program, Keller married his wife, Kali, who had two children – Lincoln and Rylynn Shea. The couple now has three children, with the birth of their daughter, Arabella, about a month ago.
“My life has definitely changed,” said Keller, adding that “It’s one thing to get off drugs and alcohol and find a life;  it’s another to get off drugs and alcohol and find Jesus.”
Redemption Church in Owatonna brought him on staff as a resident pastor for one year. At the end of the year, he and the church will reassess and look at the next steps.
“I feel I have a calling in my life to serve the church,” said Keller.
During the graduation ceremony, Keller encouraged other participants to stick with the program. “My story is a testament that you can do it,” he said.
He also has some advice for young people: “Don’t try anything. As soon as you start messing with chemicals, your life is going to change … take it from someone who has gone through it.”
According to Grams, drug courts throughout the country reduce the costs of repeatedly processing high-risk, high-need substance abusers through the courts, jails, and prisons while providing offenders a pathway to recovery.
Participants are required to abstain from substance use, be accountable for their behavior, and fulfill the legal responsibilities of the offenses they have committed.
There are currently 38 participants in the local drug court with three participants.