PALMETTO, Fla — A former Palmetto pastor is facing more than 14 charges, including capital sexual battery and possession of child pornography.
According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), they received information on June 21 that Jonathan Elwing, 43, used cryptocurrency to purchase child sexual abuse material. Elwing was a senior pastor at Palm View First Baptist Church in Palmetto.
"Professing to be a man of God, a pastor, to have all these people in your congregation that trusted in you is sickening to all of us to know what his true intent was and what was he doing behind the scenes," said Sheriff Rick Wells with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
MCSO deputies searched Elwing's home and the church where he worked in Palmetto.
"Right now, the concern is are there other victims, potential victims, given his close contact with children as a leader of the church. I've been working closely with the church," said Lt. Mark Morie with MCSO Crimes Against Children.
On Friday, June 21, Elwing was arrested and booked into Manatee County Jail on four counts of Possession of Child Pornography. According to MCSO, he resigned from his position at the church before being arrested.
On Thursday, June 27, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office announced Elwing is facing 14 additional charges, including two counts of Capital Sexual Battery, six counts of Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material, and six counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, commonly referred to as child porn.
A forensic search of the former pastor's cell phone revealed images of him sexually battering a child along with the production and possession of 12 images of child pornography, according to court records. Deputies located four sexually explicit images of children found in his possession last week.
Detectives said they also discovered covert cameras at the residence and the church's office.
"There were a couple found at his residence, and then, the rest were found in his church office on his desk," said Lt. Morie.
Lt. Morie said Elwing has been a pastor for 24 years, and has been a pastor in the area since 2019.
MCSO is urging anyone with information about potential crimes involving Elwing to contact them at 914-747-3011 or to remain anonymous, contact Manatee County Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-8477 (TIPS).
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