Florida | Pastor Evades Death Penalty, Gets Triple Life Sentence

Jonathan Elwing / Photo via Florida State Attorney’s Office

A Florida pastor who became a potential candidate for the death penalty gets a triple life sentence for filming himself abusing a child.

Jonathan Elwing, who was senior pastor at Palm View First Baptist in Palmetto when the abuse occurred, will spend the rest of his life in prison without parole after a jury found him guilty on 12 felony counts.

Police initially charged the pastor and father of four with four counts of possessing child pornography and for using cryptocurrency to buy explicit images of children from the dark web.

Detectives began investigating Elwing after a cryptocurrency company tipped them about the purchases.

Days later, police conducted a search warrant at Elwing’s home and the church where he pastored. On his cell phone, they found explicit images of him sexually battering a 2-year-old child. The images included his face and made the child’s identity and age obvious, as well as connected details that matched his home, court records show.

Nearly a month later, police found enough material to charge Elwing with over 20 counts of possession of child pornography.

Elwing became a potential candidate for the death penalty after the Florida Legislature passed a bill expanding death penalty eligibility for those convicted of sexual battery of a child under 12. The bill, which became effective on October 1, 2023, states that juries no longer need a unanimous vote, but rather 8 out of 12 to sentence someone to death row. As of April 2026, several candidates have had trials that would qualify, but none have received a death sentence.

Elwing pleaded not guilty, and his defense argued that the police searched him and his belongings without probable cause or a proper warrant, and that the warrant failed to confirm that the photos transferred were, in fact, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

Elwing’s trial began on April 20 at the Manatee County Courthouse. The jury found him guilty the following day. The court sentenced Elwing immediately.

Circuit Court Judge Ryan Felix sentenced the defendant to 12 life sentences, one for each count for which the jury convicted him. Elwing is also designated a sexual predator. The judge ordered him to serve three of the life sentences consecutively, with the remaining sentences to run concurrently.

Palm View First Baptist released a statement acknowledging the sentencing and said the court details of the crimes were “horrific” and “cry out for justice.”

“We pray for the continued healing of those directly and indirectly involved in this case, especially the victim and the victim’s family,” they said, adding that they will not make further comments regarding the verdict, as the window for an appeal is now open. “We thank those involved in the legal process, especially law enforcement, court officials, witnesses, and jury members.”

Source: ministrywatch.com, Jessica Eturralde, April 27, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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