Florida Pastor Arrested after Child Pornography Accusations Confirmed to be True by Cops

A Christian pastor was apprehended in Florida on Friday by local law enforcement for allegedly purchasing child pornography online.

A senior pastor of Palm View Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida, Jonathan Edward Elwing, 43, has been charged with four counts of possession of child sexual abuse images, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities made the arrest following a tip-off received by detectives from the sheriff’s office. It was reported that Elwing had utilized cryptocurrency to acquire the images through an online transaction.

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Based on the information provided by the sheriff’s office, during the execution of a search warrant at Elwing’s residence and church, deputies discovered four “sexually explicit photos of children” on his cellphone.

Prior to Elwing’s arrest, he voluntarily stepped down from his position, as stated in the press release issued by the sheriff’s office. Elwing is currently being detained at the Manatee County Jail without the possibility of release on bond as per Newsweek.

If you have any information regarding crimes possibly involving Elwing, the sheriff’s office is urging you to contact them at (941) 747-3011. Alternatively, you can remain anonymous and potentially receive a cash reward by reaching out to Manatee County Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-8477 (TIPS) or through their website.

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