Baptist church pastor arrested for possessing children’s sex photos on his phone
A senior Baptist Church pastor in Palmetto, Jonathan Edward Elwing, has been arrested for allegedly possessing several children’s sex photos on his phone.
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children detectives reportedly arrested Elwing last Friday afternoon for possession of child pornography.
On Thursday, detectives reportedly received information that Jonathan Edward Elwing, a senior pastor of Palm View Baptist Church, used cryptocurrency to make an online purchase of child sexual abuse material.
A search warrant was executed Friday at the church and Elwing’s home, local media reports said.
Detectives found four sexually explicit images of children on his cell phone. Probable cause was developed to charge Elwing with four counts of possession of child pornography.
He was taken into custody and booked at the Manatee County Jail. Elwing resigned from his position as pastor of the church before being arrested.
