Palmetto pastor arrested after Manatee deputies say he bought child sexual abuse images

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Palmetto pastor Friday after receiving a tip that he had purchased child sexual abuse images, the agency announced.

Jonathan Edward Elwing, 43, senior pastor of Palm View Baptist Church, was charged with four counts of possession of child sexual abuse images. Detectives received information Thursday that Elwing used cryptocurrency to buy child sexual abuse material, the news release said.

Deputies executed a search warrant Friday at Elwing’s home and the church. Detectives found four sexually explicit images of children on his cell phone, according to the news release.

Elwing resigned from his job before his arrest, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Elwing is being held at the Manatee County Jail without bond, according to the sheriff’s office website.

The investigation is still ongoing, the news release said. Further information was not immediately available Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at (941) 747-3011. Anonymous tips can be made to Manatee County Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477 (TIPS) or www.ManateeCrimeStoppers.com.

This story was originally published June 21, 2024 at 4:46 PM.