A Southern Baptist pastor in Florida is facing 18 felony counts, after explicit photos were found on his phone, including ones of him repeatedly sexually abusing a toddler, police say.
Jonathan Elwing, 43, senior pastor of Palm View First Baptist Church in Palmetto, was arrested by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on June 21, on four counts of possession of material depicting child sexual conduct. The same day, prior to being arrested, he resigned as pastor of his Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)-affiliated church.
Six days later, following a forensic review of Elwing’s cell phone and computers, authorities have added 14 charges. Elwing has been additionally charged with 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.
Police say Elwing was using a private photo vault app on his phone to hide at least 14 pictures of him sexually assaulting a 2-year-old, the Bradenton Herald reported.
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells stated that 10 covert cameras had also been found at Elwing’s home and in his church office, Spectrum Bay News 9 reported.
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