A megachurch pastor\u2019s son was arrested on seven felony counts, including child exploitation, a level four felony, in October. 24-year-old Jonathan Wesley Peternel was detained but has pleaded not guilty. The horrific finds on his computer when police raided his home send shivers down our spine.<\/p>\n
On October 23, Jonathan Peternel from Pendleton, Indiana, son of megachurch pastor Nathan Peternel, was arrested. It came after the Hamilton County Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force seized electronic devices from the 24-year-old\u2019s home.<\/p>\n
It occurred after the police had received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Submitted by Snapchat, it showed five files of suspected Child Sex Abuse Material, involving prepubescent children, the police said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The police\u2019s statement included disturbing details of what was found in Peternel\u2019s electrical devices.<\/p>\n
\u201cA search warrant was conducted on Peternel\u2019s residence, where further evidence was located showing that he possessed over 200 files of Child Sex Abuse Material. Some of this included sadomasochistic child abuse, children that appeared to be drugged or intoxicated while being abused, violent child molestation, and photorealistic AI-generated photos of nude pregnant toddlers,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n
Per VT, among other disturbing things found, investigators claimed to have discovered sex tapes involving Jonathan\u2019s parents, with his father, Nathan Peternel, being the pastor of a megachurch.<\/p>\n
Megachurch pastor\u2019s son arrested on seven felony counts
\nPastor Nathan Peternel addressed the videos during a tearful church service. He admitted that they were real, but that he and his wife had been \u201cunwise but not sinful\u201d in making them. Moreover, he states that he never expected the recordings to be found among their son\u2019s files.<\/p>\n
According to authorities, Nathan Peternel was with his son when police served a search warrant at their home in September, a month before his arrest.<\/p>\n
Pastor Nathan Peternel\u2019s church, Life Church in Indiana, released a statement on its website, saying it was \u201cdeeply saddened by the recent allegations\u201d and calling it a \u201ccrisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur prayers are with Pastor Nathan and his family during this incredibly difficult time, as well as with the families and individuals impacted by these events,\u201d according to the unsigned statement. \u201cOur hearts remain heavy for all who are suffering. As we walk through this challenging moment, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pastor Chad McAtee, superintendent of the Assemblies of God, addressed Life Church on November 16, praising Nathan Peternel\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve known Pastor Nathan for more than two decades,\u201d McAtee said. \u201cThis is what I know about your pastor. He\u2019s a man of character and integrity. He\u2019s a man that loves his family, he\u2019s a man that loves God.\u201d<\/p>\n
Church breaks silence
\nSadly, things got worse. After Jonathan Peternerl\u2019s arrest, 24Sight News published allegations about Nathan\u2019s conduct toward younger people.<\/p>\n
One former member of the pastor\u2019s youth group claimed that he had asked them about sex and talked to them about his own sex life. The news outlet reported that a woman named Paige received marriage counseling from Nathan when she was only 17 years old, which contained \u201csexually explicit\u201d and graphic questions. Life Church<\/p>\n
Per Indy Star, McAtee left a statement, saying news of the church has been \u201cvery disappointing\u201d and \u201cvery upsetting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of it even seemed unbelievable. I understand that this storm will pass for most of us in the room\u2026. but your pastor\u2019s heart and your pastor\u2019s family will never be the same,\u201d he said, and encouraged churchgoers not to be \u201cgossiping, crying and complaining\u201d as well as remain faithful.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf somebody is leading but everybody\u2019s gossiping, we\u2019ve got a problem,\u201d McAtee added. \u201cLet your leaders lead you, whether it\u2019s at the church house or your house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jonathan Peternel has pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. His attorney has not issued a public statement, and details about what\u2019s next are still unclear.<\/p>\n
A megachurch pastor\u2019s son was arrested on seven felony counts, including child exploitation, a level four felony, in October. 24-year-old Jonathan Wesley Peternel was detained but has… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n