By Josh Shepherd
Jonathan Elwing, former senior pastor of Palm View First Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida, has been arrested on multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of minors. (Photo: Manatee County Sheriff’s Office)
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.Palm View First Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo: Facebook)
“There’s some concern that he may have been hiding those cameras inside the church,” said Wells. On weekdays during the school year, the church hosts Educational Harbor, an accredited K-12 Christian school.
The sheriff told media that a cryptocurrency company tipped off investigators that Elwing had purchased CSAM content on the dark web. Deputies obtained a warrant and searched Elwing’s home the next day.
“I can’t stress this enough: This is a monster,” said Wells. “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 had publicly spoken out against the SBC implementing sex abuse reforms, stating in a February 2023 post on X that it would be “the end of the SBC.”
Also, as first reported by Church Leaders, Elwing had been “involved (with) denominational politics” in the SBC, including an affiliation with Founders Ministries led by Florida Baptist pastor Tom Ascol. Palm View First Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo via social media)
Palm View FBC had been listed as among Founders Ministries’ “Gospel-preaching, Christ-exalting” churches, but was removed from that list last week reported Church Leaders.
The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to Palm View FBC and to Founders Ministries but received no response.
Founders Ministries partners with the Conservative Baptist Network, an advocacy group with which Elwing was also involved that is concerned about “liberal drift” within the SBC. Both groups have been dismissive of the need for abuse reform within Southern Baptist churches.
The sheriff’s office indicated in a statement that additional charges against Elwing “are forthcoming” and provided a webpage for any potential victims to provide further information.
Sheriff Wells said he “feels bad” for Elwing’s family and congregation. “He went into that church professing to be a man of God, but he’s really nothing more than a liar and sexual predator.”
Elwing is currently being held without bond at Manatee County Jail in West Bradenton. According to court records, an initial hearing in his case has been scheduled for July 3.
Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.
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