A megachurch pastor’s 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.
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’s home.
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.
The police’s statement included disturbing details of what was found in Peternel’s electrical devices.
“A search warrant was conducted on Peternel’s 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,” it read.
Per VT, among other disturbing things found, investigators claimed to have discovered sex tapes involving Jonathan’s parents, with his father, Nathan Peternel, being the pastor of a megachurch.
Megachurch pastor’s son arrested on seven felony counts
Pastor Nathan Peternel addressed the videos during a tearful church service. He admitted that they were real, but that he and his wife had been “unwise but not sinful” in making them. Moreover, he states that he never expected the recordings to be found among their son’s files.
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.
Pastor Nathan Peternel’s church, Life Church in Indiana, released a statement on its website, saying it was “deeply saddened by the recent allegations” and calling it a “crisis.”
“Our 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,” according to the unsigned statement. “Our 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.”
Pastor Chad McAtee, superintendent of the Assemblies of God, addressed Life Church on November 16, praising Nathan Peternel’s leadership.
“I’ve known Pastor Nathan for more than two decades,” McAtee said. “This is what I know about your pastor. He’s a man of character and integrity. He’s a man that loves his family, he’s a man that loves God.”
Church breaks silence
Sadly, things got worse. After Jonathan Peternerl’s arrest, 24Sight News published allegations about Nathan’s conduct toward younger people.
One former member of the pastor’s 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 “sexually explicit” and graphic questions. Life Church
Per Indy Star, McAtee left a statement, saying news of the church has been “very disappointing” and “very upsetting.”
“Some of it even seemed unbelievable. I understand that this storm will pass for most of us in the room…. but your pastor’s heart and your pastor’s family will never be the same,” he said, and encouraged churchgoers not to be “gossiping, crying and complaining” as well as remain faithful.
“If somebody is leading but everybody’s gossiping, we’ve got a problem,” McAtee added. “Let your leaders lead you, whether it’s at the church house or your house.”
Jonathan Peternel has pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. His attorney has not issued a public statement, and details about what’s next are still unclear.
