Palmetto pastor took pictures of himself sexually battering child, Manatee deputies say

A Palmetto pastor arrested Friday after he was accused of buying child sexual abuse images is now facing more charges, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jonathan Elwing, 43, senior pastor of Palm View Baptist Church, has been charged with two counts of capital sexual battery, six counts of production of child sexual abuse material and six counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.

A forensic search of Elwing’s cell phone revealed images of him sexually battering a child, along with the production and possession of 12 images of child sexual abuse material, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

According to an arrest report, Elwing said he sometimes purchases adult pornography and claimed that he deletes any child sexual abuse material that “may get mixed in.”

But when investigators extracted hidden files from his phone, deputies say he was using a private photo vault app to hide at least 14 pictures of him sexually abusing a 2-year-old.

The update comes almost a week after Elwing was charged with four counts of possession of child sexual abuse images. Detectives received a tip that Elwing used cryptocurrency to buy child sexual abuse material, according to a previous news release. The sheriff’s office said deputies found the images on his phone after searching his home and the church, 6803 34th Ave. E., Palmetto.

Elwing resigned from his job before his arrest, the previous news release said.

Detectives continue to examine Elwing’s cell phone and expect to find more illegal material on his computer, the news release said. More charges could be on the way, deputies said.

Elwing is being held without bond at the Manatee County Jail.