Jonathan Elwing, a senior pastor of Palm View First Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida, was arrested by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office on June 21, 2024, after explicit child pornography photos were found on his phone, including ones of him repeatedly sexually abusing a toddler. Elwing, 43, was charged with four counts of possession of material depicting child sexual conduct. Less than a week later, a forensic review of Elwing's cell phone and computers revealed more evidence of child sex abuse, adding 14 more charges. Elwing is now facing 18 felony counts in total: two counts of capital sexual battery of a child under 12 years old, six counts of production of child sex abuse material, and six counts of possession of child sex abuse material.
Media reports say the investigation commenced on June 20 after Manatee County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children detectives received information from a cryptocurrency company that Elwing used cryptocurrency to make an online purchase of child sexual abuse material. A search warrant was executed on June 21 at the church and Elwing's home, where police found four sexually explicit images of children on his cell phone. As the investigation unfolded, 14 additional felony charges were filed against Elwing on June 27: 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.
According to Elwing's arrest affidavit, police say Elwing used a private photo vault app on his Google Pixel 7 Pro to hide at least 14 pictures of him sexually assaulting a 2-year-old. The images all showed variations of the toddler sitting on Elwing's erect penis as he attempts to penetrate her and of the girl laying on the bed exposing her genitalia or holding his penis.
According to media reports, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells stated that ten covert cameras had also been found at Elwing's home and church office. Wells stated, "I can't stress this enough: This is a monster. This is a man who went to great lengths to hide his true identity, to use whatever resources he could to feed this deviant behavior that he has."
Elwing resigned from his position as pastor of the church before being arrested. He was taken into custody and booked at the Manatee County Jail without bond. Police are looking for other victims.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by religious authority figures and other clergy. If you need a lawyer because a member of a religious organization sexually abused you, contact us today at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse nationwide. We can help.