Jonathan Elwing was the pastor of Palm View Baptist Church, only to be arrested for possession of arrested for possession of child pornography that he purchased with cryptocurrency. The arrest was subsequently upgraded after evidence emerged that Elwing was a contributor, not merely a consumer. Elwing was 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.
In Florida, sexual battery is defined by statute as one of two things. The first meaning of sexual battery is when a defendant’s sex organ makes contact with or penetrates the mouth, anus or vagina of the victim. The second definition means the defendant penetrated the anus or vagina of the victim with an object. The arrest made national news and has become a point of contention in the Southern Baptist Convention
This week, the sentence was rendered on the case from the summer of 2024.
State Attorney Ed Brodsky announced today that Jonathan Edward Elwing was convicted after jury trial of twelve felony offenses related to the sexual abuse of children: Sexual Battery by a Person 18 Years of Age or Older Upon a Child Less than 12 Years Of Age; Lewd or Lascivious Molestation by a Person 18 Years of Age or Older Upon a Child Less than 12 Years of Age; 5 Counts of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance; and 5 Counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
The crimes were committed between April and June of 2024 and investigated by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children and Crimes Against Children divisions.Â
The trial was held at the Manatee County Courthouse on April 20 – April 21, 2026.
The defendant was sentenced immediately following the guilty verdict on April 21, 2026.
Circuit Court Judge Ryan Felix sentenced the defendant to twelve life sentences, one for each count of which he was convicted. He was also designated a sexual predator. Three of the life sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, with the remaining sentences to run concurrent with each other.
The defendant in this case was the senior pastor at a local Palmetto church. His actions of abuse were discovered when law enforcement received a tip related to suspicious internet activity on an account associated with the defendant. Detectives were able to obtain a search warrant for the defendant’s electronic devices, which led to the discovery of his heinous acts of abuse.
In Florida, it is now a capital offense to sexually batter a child, and so Elwing avoided a most just sentence.
