Pastor's Son Had Disgusting Child Sex Material on Phone

Jonathan Peternell was a pastor's son, serving in the National Guard, aspiring. to be a chaplain. His father, a. prominent Indiana pastor, a man who. built a church on preaching morality. But then, police found Jonathan's. Snapchat. [music]. >> Well, I do want to cooperate. I don't. want to be uncooperative. >> And what was on that phone was shocking, to say the least. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law & Crime. I'm Jesse. Weber.

>> All right, real quick, aren't we always. looking for ways to earn a little extra. cash these days, right? Well, our. sponsor, FreeCash, is offering a $10. bonus with our link in the description. So, with the FreeCash app, users earn. money just by doing simple tasks like. games or surveys. Look as I play this, okay? You can literally see the balance. go up as I progress. Besides being so. easy, FreeCash doesn't make you wait to. hit some high amount to get your money. You can withdraw it at just $25, however. you want. PayPal, Visa, gift cards. I'm. even going to invite the other Law &.

Crime host to earn some more cash from. referrals. They'll love it, too. It has. a 4.8 star Trustpilot rating right now. So, click the link in the description or. scan the QR code to try it out for free. and get that $10 bonus. And the more. offers you complete, the more you can. earn. Pendleton, Indiana. It's a small. town about 30 minutes northeast of. Indianapolis. And inside a home on State. Road 132, a young man named Jonathan Peternell had. a plan. Join the National Guard, become a.

chaplain's assistant, maybe following. his father's footsteps. His father, Nathan Peternell, is a well-known pastor. in Indiana. Apparently, reportedly, a. mentor to the lieutenant governor. himself. A man who built a church empire. on preaching morality and family values. and the word of God. But but when police. knocked on their front door with a. search warrant for his son's phone, everything changed. This was a shocker. They weren't looking for drugs. They. weren't looking for weapons. They were reportedly looking for the.

worst thing a person can have on their. phone. And they found it. Not just a few. images, hundreds. Children, little girls, some tied up, some drugged, some appearing to be. asleep while an adult man's hands moved. over their bodies. Videos of rape. But that is not all they found on that. phone. >> Child pornography images. >> On Jonathan's? >> Mhm.

And his Snapchat account. >> This is body cam footage that we. obtained. And what you just heard was a. detective telling Jonathan's mother the. horrific details of what they uncovered. But here is what you haven't seen. The father, sitting in a police van, apparently told detectives a different. version of events. His son was reading. his Bible every day, aspiring to be a. chaplain. All while police were pulling. evidence off his son's phone. So, how.

did a pastor's son who knew right from. wrong end up here? And what did his. parents know? We are going to show you. the body cam. We're going to read you. what was on that phone. Incomprehensible, to say the least. So, according to the arrest report in this. case, Jonathan was 24 years old. He. lived with his parents in Pendleton, Indiana. He was in the National Guard. working as a mechanic on Blackhawk. helicopters. And as I mentioned before, he wanted to become a chaplain's. assistant and studied theology at. Indiana Wesleyan University, though he.

didn't graduate for reasons you'll. seemingly hear about shortly in the body. cam. But by the summer of 2025, Jonathan's parents believed he had. turned a corner. His mother told the. detective that Jonathan was in a good. place, especially spiritually, and was. feeling a calling to the ministry. Now, his father, who I mentioned before, Nathan Peternell, is someone in this. story that you really need to know. I. mentioned earlier he was a minister, he's the lead pastor of Life Church, a. multi-campus church with locations in. Fishers, Noblesville, Eagle Creek,

Pendleton, Indiana. He's also apparently. a mentor to Indiana's Lieutenant. Governor, Mike Beckwith. That's. according to reporting from the Indiana. Citizen. And together they even. co-hosted a podcast called Jesus, Sex, and Politics. Maybe the name kind of. gives it away, but it's a show where. they talked about the things you're not. supposed to bring up at, you know, a. Thanksgiving dinner. This is according. to the show's description. And that. podcast hasn't released a new episode. since that search warrant was served. So, when the Hamilton County Metro ICAC, Internet Crimes Against Children Task.

Force, showed up at their home on the. morning of September 10th, 2025, it. wasn't random. According to the arrest. report, they had a cyber tip from the. National Center for Missing and. Exploited Children. You see, Snapchat. had reported that someone had uploaded. child sexual abuse material to their. servers, and the IP address reportedly. traced back to one home, the Peternell. home. Per the report, what investigators found. when they searched Jonathan's phone. was horrible. More than 200.

files of child sexual abuse material. Some of it was sadomasochistic. Some of. it showed children who appeared drugged. or intoxicated while being abused. Some. of it was violent child molestation. Some of it was AI-generated images of. nude, pregnant toddlers. But there was something else reportedly. on that phone that I will tell you. I I I don't even know if it's worse. I I don't even know how to describe. this.

But according to authorities more than. 50 photos and videos of Jonathan's own. parents nude, engaged in sex acts. So, on the morning of September 10th, 2025, detectives knocked on this front door, and Nathan Peternell answered. They told. him they had a search warrant, and they. asked to speak to his son. What happened. next was captured on that body cam. >> Good morning. >> Can I help you? >> Yes.

I'm Detective Mitchell, Westfield Police. Department. >> Yeah. Oh, you can come out, too. >> Uh we got a search warrant for the. house. We're here to talk to you and. your son. Anybody else in the house? >> My wife is in the. >> Okay. I'm going to step. >> Yeah. >> You want to step out here? >> Yeah. >> You got. Can you come over here? >> Dog's okay? >> Yeah, he's a little protective. >> Jonathan, do you want to step out here, please?

>> Yes, do you want to come in here, Tyler? >> Uh yeah, actually. Your mom is upstairs? Just step in here, all right? What's mom's name? >> Uh. Christine. >> We'll wake you up. Mom's upstairs. >> Going in for entering clearing. >> Hi. What's she. >> Um.

Yeah. >> Augustine. >> Anybody else in the house? >> Just mom. >> All right. Anyone else here? >> No. >> She's upstairs. Yeah. >> Hey, Christine. >> Christine, we have a search warrant. >> Can we have you come down? >> Can you have her come downstairs, please? >> You want to step out here, too? We'll try and have her meet you down. here. >> What's your dog's name? >> Patton. >> What is. >> Patton. >> Patton. >> What?

>> You got a room upstairs or down here? >> Upstairs. I go? >> I'll get you a shirt real. >> Yeah, he probably just woke up, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> A detective sits down with Jonathan in. the family's living room. And he. explains that they work internet crimes, and that information came back to his. address. And then he tells Jonathan exactly what. that information is.

>> We show up in plain clothes to hopefully. like not look so obvious, you know, make. neighbors worry. And then we show up a. lot of people so we can hurry up, do our. work, and then leave and get people back. back on their day. Uh part of what what. I do and what Jim does is uh we're part. of a task force. You're probably. wondering why there's a Westfield guy in. your house and, you know, I guess it. makes sense for Jim to be here with the. sheriff's office. But we work in a task. force. Uh we all work together. There's. people from Greenfield, Carmel,

Noblesville, Anderson, all over the. place. And. uh the one thing that we do is uh. internet-related activity. And our end goal is to is to help. people. And. why we're here today is that there's. been some information that came back to. this address. So we don't know if it's. coming back from you. I don't know if. it's coming back from dad, mom. Does. your sister live here? >> Um no, not anymore. She's She's at.

college at IU. >> Yeah. >> So. that that's what we're trying to. determine today um and then get you guys. back on your day. Um you see a. gentleman walking in and out. They're. doing the photos. They're doing all. that. But. it'll be just me and Jim. That's all you. got to worry about. Those guys will just. do their thing and be out of here. Um. Okay. Does any of that make sense to you? I I. know you're a little shook up right now. >> Yes, sir.

>> Yeah, okay. Um. So So with that, part of our. investigation uh led us back to this. home and we're trying to determine what. that is and um. without beating around the bush um. a lot of this involves um. what I would call child pornography. And when I talk about child pornography, I'm not talking about you know, just you. know, here's here's my niece in the.

bathtub in a bubble bath playing around. We're talking about kids engaged in. sexual activity. So that led us back here today and we're. trying to figure out. who it might be and how it got here, but. ultimately we're trying to. skip past that and find that kid. So if we can find that kid, we can get. that kid help. If that makes sense. Um for every video that's out there. that's a child being exploited by an. adult somewhere else. So that's.

obviously there's no kids in the home. here. Um. so. determining how someone came across that. video, we find out where they found it, how they got it and then we can move on. to find that kid. That makes sense? >> So the detective asks Jonathan a direct. question. Has he ever come across this. kind of material on the internet before? Jonathan's answer maybe isn't what the. detective expected. >> So.

with that, has there been any times. where you've come across any of that? While on the internet. or. in the home? >> Um. I think that I'm supposed to talk to my. attorney. Um. I'm friends with we're friends with him. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's good. >> Um. >> Do you have an attorney locally?

>> Um. Yeah. Yeah, he's a good. >> name? His name is Ray Adler. >> Okay. I think I'm supposed to talk to him. before I I like. >> I know. Just say a bunch of stuff. >> No, I understand that completely. Um. So, with that. Do you want. >> Well, I do want to cooperate. I don't. want to be uncooperative. But. >> Well, if you want to if you want a.

uh an attorney, then we can't have this. conversation. Not Not like it's a. punishment or anything, but that's your. right. So, if you want to speak to an. attorney before we talk, um. then we'll just sit here today. We'll gather the electronic devices. Um I don't know if it's coming back to. you or your dad, so people are going to. be interviewing your dad as well. And. uh we'll move from there. >> Do you have a cell phone, Jonathan? >> Yes, sir. >> Where is it? >> It's in my room.

>> That's part of what we're doing here. today. Just to further explain, um. we're we're collecting electronic. devices since this is all. internet-related. Something's happened. from here from some sort of a electronic. device. So, that's what we're here for. Obviously, we're here to talk to you and. Dad and. and and your like I said, Tyler was. made sure you're crystal clear on that. that advisement of your rights and so it. sounds like you understand that and we. respect that. And that's that's we're.

never um doing anything to jeopardize. that. >> Mhm. >> Um. but that's [clears throat] what we'll be. doing here from um. We're going to collect devices and take. those with us and they'll be. forensically analyzed and then we'll. move forward from there. Does that make sense? >> Mhm. >> Yes, sir. >> The detective changes gears and asks. Jonathan about school, about why he. left, about what he does now. And. Jonathan's answers paint a picture of a. young man who knows exactly what bad. influences look like. >> Um no, I've been to other colleges, sir.

Where else? Indiana Wesleyan University. >> Oh, nice. What do you study there? >> Theology. >> Did you graduate from there or just go? >> No, I uh. I didn't graduate from there.

>> Okay. How long did you go there? >> Um. five semesters. >> Just a semester? Oh, you said five. semesters. >> Just a semester. >> Did you like it up there? >> Yeah. I liked that I had. uh some bad friends, so I had to come. back home and. >> Got you. What do you mean by that? >> Um. they were just uh. bad influences.

>> Not to pry too much, but what what what. kind of like. >> Drinking. >> Smoking, alcohol, drugs. >> Yeah, and then nicotine stuff, too. So. >> Okay. >> [snorts]. >> That's not probably very accepted up. there, is it? >> Uh. >> Or more so than what people probably. think. >> Yeah. >> Got you. Basically. >> the entire football team is like that. >> Were you on the football team there?

>> No, but I hang out I hung out with the. football team guys. >> Yeah. I'm sure a lot of guys who probably went. there to play football it was more about. playing football than it was probably. about studying, huh? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So it's kind of easy for it to slip into. uh you know, being more of a Christian. school and slip into a little bit of the. party time and all that. First time away. from home. That's understandable. A lot of people do that. >> Yeah, I'm in the National Guard. >> Okay. Okay.

When do you drill? >> Uh this weekend. >> Uh. You enlisted or an officer? >> I'm enlisted. >> Nice. Where do you drill at? Down uh Lawrence. or Stout Field or something or. >> Um. in uh in Shawnee though. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I think they fly out there, don't they?

I think they don't they run some. helicopters out there or not? >> Um yeah, it's a. Black Hawk unit. >> Yeah, yeah. >> I fix Black Hawks. >> It probably takes a lot of skill, I. would imagine. Probably not something that's uh. comparable to working on a Toyota. >> I'm not gifted at it, so I had to study. pretty hard. >> Yeah. Uh that shows a lot of work ethic. How long you been in the Guard? >> 4 and 1/2 years. >> Oh, wow.

Um you going to re-enlist? >> I was about to, yeah. >> That change or what? >> Well, yeah, I think I'm going to. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I signed conditional release papers. separating me from the National Guard, so trying to go active right now. >> Nice. Yeah, that can be a little difficult. I have friends who were Marine Reserves. and they were trying to go active for.

years and. it was uh easier for them to get out and. join the Army than it was to go active. in the. >> A different detective takes his mother. outside. And that conversation starts. with small talk about the search. warrant. But then, the The asks her. something personal. >> Um you got a chance to read the warrant? >> I did, yeah. I mean. the last part was a little bit vague. because he was done reading it and so. >> Oh, you're just skimming through it? Would Would you like to read through? I. can get it for you. >> It's okay. >> Okay.

Um. just so I don't forget it. I'm terrible. with names unless I write it down. So, I apologize. And I'm just going to be up front with. you. I'm not the detective that's. working the case, so I have minimal. knowledge of the case, but um. obviously you're not a suspect in. anything. Um. so I'm not going to read you your rights. unless you want me to, but I don't plan. on getting into like great detail. Um.

anything to that nature. We can talk as. little or much or if you have any. questions, I'm happy to answer what what. I can. >> Yeah. >> Um. and then. so obviously the search warrant we're. here. um. cuz we work off cyber tips and there was. a tip. that came back. It. Are Are you aware of all that? >> No. >> Okay. >> No, I know I know kind of what you do, but I didn't know they wouldn't tell us. anything yet about. >> Okay. Yeah, so um we received a cyber tip and.

that's why we're here. It led us to the. house. >> So So, is this tip. something. like an anonymous person can. >> No, it all comes from like social media. So, I believe this was Snapchat. Snapchat is the one that reported it. >> Um. okay. >> So, do you guys use Snapchat? >> Um I have Snapchat on my phone. >> Okay. >> use it. >> Gotcha. >> I have used it in the past for photos, but. >> Okay. >> I know they have great filters, right?

>> Yeah, but then it gets to a point where. it's too filtered and so [laughter]. it's just not you, you know? >> Absolutely. >> I don't I don't like Snapchat. I think. Snapchat is. it's pretty horrible actually for the. intent that it was created for and. especially the younger generation. >> Oh, awesome. So, have you been like a. pastor in like your whole life? >> Well, yeah, I was a pastor's kid and. then he was a pastor's kid and then.

out of Bible college we got married and. became pastors. So, yeah. >> Very cool. >> Our whole lives. >> Okay. >> The detective asks about Jonathan's. past, about whether there was ever an. incident. His mother says no, not. really, just something with a school. computer, a false alarm, she says. But. when the detective asks what kind of. photographs. perhaps she seemingly admits to. something. >> So, was there a. a report his When was he a senior? When.

did he graduate? >> Um. That was the year he graduated. Um. >> So, he's in his 20s, right? >> He's 20 Yeah, he's 24. >> 24. So, oh gosh. What are you, like 18? Um was there a a police report involving. like an incident. when he was in high school? >> Um. No, there were that I don't think there.

was a police report because they don't. They questioned something and that it. came back that it wasn't actually what. they thought that it was. >> Okay. Can you tell me a little bit about. that? Do you know? >> I don't I don't know much about it. >> Did Nathan handle that? >> No, I was the I was the one that. actually talked with the officer and um. it was it was like a false alarm kind of. thing. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Did it involve.

I only got bits and pieces of it. >> Um. it was that he had had something um. I think because he it was a school. computer, he had had something that came. the wording came up questionable. And so they had to do like a they had to. look into it and it came back that it. wasn't actually anything. >> So there wasn't like any um.

pictures or photographs that they found? >> Oh my god. >> They didn't find anything that was that. was alarming. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Got you. I didn't read the report. It just got. mentioned, so. >> No, they didn't find anything that was. actually they there was something that. questioned. but then after that after the. investigation, they said there wasn't. anything that was. >> Okay. Was it like nude photographs? >> Uh yeah, he had some nude photographs on.

his computer on his school computer. >> Okay. >> Which was he wasn't supposed to have. >> Yeah. >> And the detective asks about that time. in Jonathan's life, the school computer. incident. And his mother tells him what. was really going on. >> There was a season, you know, teenagers. get that. There was a season where he was. um they were they were not we weren't. neither one of us were very close to him. because he was he was a little bit of a. rebel, but.

um during that season, but they're. really. very close now. We're we're all very. close now. >> Good. >> Yeah. >> Was that. during the incident with the school. computer? >> That was just like he during that season. he was hanging out with some guys that. were not great influence on him and. he was. you know. vaping and. just.

didn't really care about school. You know, so it was. it was not the easiest. season. >> Oh, I'm sure. >> You know. But, um. his heart is in a good place now and. he's. >> So, at this point the detective stopped. circling and asked the question that all. roads are leading towards. >> Does he have access to children at all? >> No, as far as I can understand today. >> Or yeah, or do you guys have like little.

nieces and nephews or anything that. >> We have nieces that live in Minneapolis. >> Not local. >> What's good? Why do you ask that? >> Just cuz of the stuff that was in his. account. So, we just always ask. I'm sure they've. always asked or already asked, but I was. just following up just cuz I don't know. what other people talked about. >> So, you found things? >> Mhm. Well, that's why we're here. It was in. the cyber tip. >> I knew that there were was a tip, but I.

didn't know. >> The child pornography images. >> On Jonathan's? >> Mhm. In his Snapchat account. >> Is there a way to tell when.

that when that was or. >> Um yes. It's not my case, so I don't know that. information. The case detective has all. that information. >> But, there was definitely. pictures. >> There was. And since it's not my case, then I. obviously I don't.

I'm sure it's stuff off the internet. I'm not saying like it's from someone. like in your house. He's sought out and. took pictures up. So I'm not saying. anything like that. Um. But yes, there was definitely photos of. child pornography in his Snapchat. account. That came back to him. >> That came back. >> to him. To his account. Yes.

So that is why we're here today.

I know. It's not easy to digest or. anything. So.

not easy to hear.

>> So like when we do work these cases and. there are. the images, that's why I say like the. little breadcrumbs. So like when we're. able to talk to people that have those. images in their account, like we want to. know. where they came from. Like. did you like whoever has them, like did. you seek them out? Did someone send them. to you? Do you know who these children. are? So that way we kind of have to like.

work backwards to be able to try to. find these kids that are being. exploited.

And obviously, I know you know how. important it is cuz you said you guys. help. >> We already know how important it is. >> From there then a lieutenant walks over. to the car and he's got news about what. happens next. So since Jonathan. requested a lawyer earlier, look what happens. Look what this means. >> All right. >> I'm done. >> I'm Lieutenant over the unit. So I. talked to the case detective. Since your son has requested a lawyer. and not want to speak what's going on, we can't narrow down exactly what. devices that this stuff is going to be.

on, so we're going to have to take. everything, which includes your phone. and your laptop. So we have to take them back and make. sure there's no child pornography on any. of the devices. >> Wow. Okay. Is. how how long will you have them? >> It depends how long how quick we can get. into them. So, I can't give you a time. frame. Sometimes it could be a week, sometimes it could be months. So, I I. don't know. >> goodness. >> I could try to get yours and your.

husband's phones processed first. Um. but I can't guarantee how quick it'll. be. >> Yeah, but that that's our That's how we. how we. do all of our work. >> I understand. So, you you can shut off. service and get another one until these. are done. But, that's the best I can offer you. right now. I can't I have to search. warrant we're taking all of all. electronic devices.

>> You did give the passcodes, so that is a. plus. So, um that should speed things up a lot. quicker. Cuz if we don't have passcodes, then we have to. hook it up to machine and like brute. force, and that can take a long time to. go through like all the different. combinations. So, >> Let's go back to Nathan. Let's go back. to the father here, okay? He ends up in. a van with two detectives. They explain. the warrant, and then he asks a. question. >> So, uh this gentleman, I forget what he.

>> Yeah. >> It's a state law. >> Um. he had mentioned that it would be we we. would find out what this tip was. What. this like what it what is this about? >> Yeah. So, as we start reading through here, um. you can tell it's all kind of technology. based, right? So, what we do is we do. internet crimes. That's what we. investigate. So, the majority of our. scope of our investigation involves. technology such as computers, cell. phones, tablets, anything that can kind.

of touch the internet. But, at the same. time, we also will look at anything that. can store, you know, digital cameras. that can store material and so forth on. it. So, sounds like you're a. photographer for a living. >> I am, yeah. Well, a part-time. photographer, yeah. >> We're probably not interested really in. your camera. We'll look at it real fast. just to make sure that there's nothing. illegal on there that pertains to this. investigation, but nothing that I would. probably need to take back with us. today. So, what we'll do, we'll come out and.

we're going to have a discussion. with Nathan this morning. Um. and or Jonathan, I'm sorry. We're going. to have a. uh you're Nathan, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, sorry. We're going to have a discussion with. Jonathan. kind of about what why this here and why. the investigation why this investigation. is taking place and why we have a. warrant. Um. and it's just to get a better. understanding cuz. the internet is a very large place. There's a lot of stuff that takes place. on there. Um and there's a lot of different dark.

avenues you can go down. So, the investigator, Tyler, who's on this. warrant, he's going to talk to. him about that stuff and try to get us a. better idea of why he's here. These are passcodes, too. >> There There is. I I The The only thing. I'm. I'm just thinking about is. is that. sh- should I should I call my lawyer. before you leave here? Or or and I know that.

I wanted to do everything I can. Please. please understand that. I'll do. everything I can to help you and I'm. also not thinking about my family right. now. So, just know. Is Is that. If I If I say yes to my phone today, I'll have my phone and if I. and if I uh. and I and if I have my lawyer come, that. just you're you're going to take the. phone anyway for. for days if I understand that correctly. >> So, the detective lays out the options. Give up the passcodes, let them preview.

the phones now, or lose these devices. for weeks, months. Now, Nathan seemingly. hesitates and what he says next kind of. reveals something about maybe how he. sees the people sitting across from him. >> I don't want to Here's the So, if you. have your phone right here, we're able. to go through it today and just say, "Okay, there's no evidence pertaining to. this crime on there. We know you're not. involved in this." We're able to quickly. turn around and give that back to you. cuz we call that basically an unseen. preview of your device. >> Okay.

>> And we don't have any of our digital. forensic guys with us today. So, that. requires me to then seize that phone, put it in the property, which we do have. our crime lab if we have to collect any. evidence. They'll take it back, they'll. enter it into the fishers property. It'll then just go into our regular. chain of hey, this is evidence that. needs to be examined. And when they get. time to get to it, when that hits that, you know, they have other cases besides. this. Um they will then pull it, hook it. up to the equipment, and that could. take, you know, depending on how many. photos and how much uh storage you.

currently have on there, it could take. 24 to 48 hours to get into. Then they. create a a case, they look at it, and. then we determine whether or not the. phone can be returned back to you. So, >> Do I end up losing my phone today? >> If we end up having to take it with us, yes. Otherwise, if you provide that. consent to look at it here, um unseen, you know, and you're what you're telling. me is truthful, then we can more than. likely give that back to you. So, you're. understanding? >> Yeah. >> We certainly would We have some links.

to what connects to the internet and in. this investigation. And And as long as. we don't see any of those links into. your phone or device or apps or anything. like that, we likely relinquish the phone to you, but we can't promise that to you 100%. >> Sure. >> because we're going to be looking at. other devices in the house. And if we. can't find those links in any of the. devices, and we're just not really sure, you know, who's connected to it and. which devices are connected to it, we might still have to take all the.

devices to get them back for our digital. forensics to do like a full dump. I just. I want to be honest with you and kind of. make you aware of all all the factors. and and things we have to consider. in all of this. But, whether or not you want to give your. passcode, um that is up to you. You know, I certainly understand your. your desire um and thoughts about. consulting with your attorney first. um and and we can go down that road as. well. Um. there are some kind of investigative.

case specific things and questions we. like to ask you about. In order to do. that, we're going to have to read you. your rights. Um. I would just. >> potentially arrested then? >> No. >> Um okay. >> I don't think. anyone is going to be arrested. here today regardless of what we find or. what we hear. Um. but, because we have to ask you some. investigative specific questions, we. need to make you aware of your rights.

and you need to decide whether or not. you want to speak to us or consult with. an attorney. Um. since since I've already broached it, let's just let's jump into that. um just so we don't have to have any. more. um concern, all right? So, um. I'll just do this. This is a statement. of rights form. for a task force. I'm going to read it to you and I'll. show it to you and you can look at it. and make a decision on on what you want. to do. Um before we ask any questions,

it is my duty to advise you of your. rights. You have the right to remain. silent. Anything you say can be used. against you in court or other. proceedings. You have the right to. consult an attorney before making any. statements or answering any questions. You have the right to have an attorney. present with you during questioning. If. you cannot afford an attorney, one will. be appointed for you before any. questioning if you wish. If you decide. to answer questions now, you still have. the right to stop answering questions at. any time or stop the questioning for the.

purposes of consulting with an attorney. All right? Um so, that's your statement of rights form. Um. I'll I'll. if you'd like to look at it and then. there is a waiver section that is down. below. It's. if you'd like to speak with us, we can go through the waiver portion of. it. Um one of the things that this. waiver section includes is this sentence. here about I was taken into custody.

You are not being taken into custody. Um. you're part of because you live here and. this is the location we're doing the. search warrant and you have electronic. devices on this property, yes, you're. part of this investigation. Um you're technically you're being. detained. You're sitting in the back of. the police van with with the police. officers. Um. you're being detained. You're not being. arrested. I don't anticipate.

that. anyone's going to get arrested today. outright. We're we're here to collect. evidence and to see if we can obtain the. statements. That's sort of the primary. goal of of today's operation. Um. are you interested in. considering the the waiver route. speaking with us? >> Man, I want to, but. I also.

I just dealt with stuff. recently where. at my church where. um. I had. we're mandatory reporters for. for certain things, right? >> Yeah. >> And so I have. I have a. certain of my employees that. they have police officers that just. they they found out police officers can. lie to them and I don't think any of us.

ever knew that. And so we were instructed by our lawyer. just to say I'm happy to help you. I'm I want to I want to help you, but I. have to do that through my through my. lawyer, Raymond Adler. And I feel like. that's what he would tell me to say. right now. It's not that I don't want to. help you in any way. But. you know, he said. he said sometimes. assistants are just.

we're too honest and it ends up getting. us in trouble. So I'm not That's the only thing I have. Okay, a little bit of a. I feel like you don't understand me. >> The detective then brings this back to. the potential victims in this case, the. ones in the videos, and he says they. need to eliminate Nathan and his wife as. suspects. >> I used to work for DCS back in the day, years ago. Um. you know, it's I could Well, I could. tell you it's not a common practice. While. in some interviewing you'll find that.

lies get. told. We're not here to deceive you. The. facts what we have that already led us. here today are the facts, and we don't. need to um. you know, give you any disillusion or. mislead you in any direction. Uh again, we have an ultimate goal of getting the. kid at the end of the road. This is a. small step in that progress. Um you. know, we have to kind of understand. you're not the primary focus of our. investigation, but again, you are a part. of the household. The utilities are in.

your name. Um you know, phones and so forth are in. your name. So, yes, you're encompassed. in all this. Uh. you know, the lead investigator is. actually talking to your son, and that. is where the focus of the investigation. is. Um but we do have to do our due. diligence. We have to eliminate you as a. suspect. We do have to eliminate your. wife as a suspect. Um, we do have to be thorough and go. through devices, um, you know, including, you know, your. wife's camera and any other photography.

equipment you may have or videography. So, just understand that that we are. going to do our job. We are going to be. thorough and go through investigation as. I think anybody would expect us to do. Um, you know, and that does require us. you being dad, you being. the homeowner, you having utilities, you. having a cell phone to ask us for us to. ask you specific questions. Um, we don't our practice isn't to lie. There's no need for us to do that. I. don't need to, um,

mislead you with the questions I'm. asking. We're just being straightforward. and we're going to ask you, you know, questions as far as, um, you know, if you've ever had any. concerns and that sort of stuff around, uh, your son's internet usage. That nature, so. You have plenty of time to, um, consult. We'll be here a while, so if you want to. think this over and think about whether. or not you want to ask any questions or. if you want to let us ask you questions. Uh, also it's part of your rights is. that.

you have the right to stop answering. questions anytime. So, understand that. We can have that discussion and if at. some point you're like, "Yeah, I don't. like that question. I don't feel. comfortable answering it." You can. invoke your rights. Does that make. sense? >> Yeah. >> So. >> The detective then asked Nathan about. Jonathan's past, right about the school. computer incident that we've been. talking about, about whether he ever saw. anything concerning on his son's phone. And Nathan seemingly starts to answer, but then appears to stop.

>> This is going to be a tough question to. ask. I don't mean to offend anybody. I. don't mean to upset you, okay? Has he. ever been victimized or has he ever been. in a situation where he's been a victim. being type of sex crime? >> Not to our knowledge. >> Okay. All right. Um the only reason I throw that out. there is that you know, this in this. line of work that we do, um sometimes we. do. we see that being a correlation. >> I don't want to answer that. >> And so, you know, we want to make sure that if. there's some type of trauma there, that.

we address that the appropriate way, um. as well as we as we go through this. process. So, that was just a question. I think. he's saying what you're saying to me. >> Yeah. The I, you know, I don't. We've asked that question to his parents. >> Mhm. >> a number of times. It's our worst. nightmare that something happened to. your kids. >> Yeah. >> But, um. the only story that Todd's ever told us. is. 15 years ago when we left.

15 years ago when we left a different. church that we he said that there was a. woman who kissed him on the lips. >> Mhm. >> when he was nine. >> Okay. >> And. and that's. that's all we know of. >> Okay. >> Like, um. I can't remember whether he told us that. she kind of touched him over his clothes. or something like that. We didn't find out about it until years.

later. >> Okay. >> We tried to ask him to recollect. anything that could have happened. >> Mhm. >> And he couldn't recollect anything. >> Okay. >> Um. It was just one of those odd stories. that didn't really make a lot of sense. >> Sure. Yeah. >> But, we don't know of anything. We're not aware of anything that. I've asked him a dozen times. >> Have you ever. you know, jump out of device or saw him.

on a his phone or computer looking at. material that you thought was. questionable like actually pornography. is typically not a big thing in. Christian households to be looking at, but have you ever discovered anything. that. you're like, "Hey, that seems off." Or. um. you know, maybe there's something of. concern here. >> Um. there would definitely be things that I. saw on his phone that were of great. concern to me.

>> That you saw? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is that Are we talking about children? Are we talking about adults? >> Pornography is so It's not if your kid. sees pornography, it's when your kid. sees pornography. >> Right. >> And. and so um. so I I mean, the very first time. that I saw stuff that was super. concerning to me was. yeah, I mean, when he was 10 years old, you know, 11 years old. >> Yeah. >> So,

you know, there was there was definitely. concerning things that I that I saw that. it was. you're you you put up passwords, you try. to You just try to stop stuff from. happening. >> Right. >> But you can't. You can't stop everything from them. getting to it. even with. with password-protected stuff in all. cases. So, there were there were places where. you pray a lot and you try to counsel. your kid away from things.

>> Right. >> So, that if if if there was, you know, there's stuff that. breaks your heart. So, you counsel them away from it, but. as to the content. of what I. saw and got rid of, if you don't mind, I'd just like to ask my lawyer first on. that. >> Yeah, that's fine. The detective tells. Nathan that without Jonathan's. cooperation, they're going to have to. take every device in this house. Nathan's phone, his wife's computer, everything. Nathan doesn't argue.

Instead, he tells the detective about. the son that he claims to know now. >> Jonathan's our primary suspect. >> No, we have to continue to look at. everybody equally until we can disprove. that. Um you know, without being able to have. those conversations with him today, that's going to require us to take those. devices, okay? So, I know we spoke. earlier about helping you get your. phone, your wife's phone back, and stuff. like that. Um that won't happen. So, >> I can only.

I can only say that I'm sorry that this. didn't even have to happen. >> Yeah. Uh. again, he is young. He's got, you know, no criminal history or anything like. that. So, I hope that whatever comes of. this, this is kind of a aha moment for. him and kind of something has happened. in the past that he gets the proper help. for that. Um. you know, it's in his hands and what he wants to. do. So. >> Yeah, Jonathan is in a place right now.

just. when when you. when you see that. your kid is trying to make a change in. their life. and they're repentant for what they've. done, you know, then. then you. that's a better place to be spiritually. speaking, right? You're you're trying to. just make sure you are you done with.

that old way of life? Jonathan is probably. right now in a place where he is as. repentant. and moving away from that. as as I am aware of. And you wait a long time as a parent. hoping that day comes. So, he's. that's really where he is right now, you. know? >> Yeah. >> The kid is. he's in the Bible every day. He wants to. be a. You know, he wants to be a military.

chaplain or be a chaplain's assistant. He's trying to change his MOS. He's trying to put himself in the right. place. So, like. you know, I if there's things that have. followed him, I don't know how long all. of this takes. I imagine it takes a. while to. get it all together before you get to. this point, but. I think he's in a good place. in his head and in his heart.

Um. So, I know that probably didn't mean I mean, you guys your job is just to enforce the. law. and I. I understand that. >> So, that's what the body cam captured. Shows a lot, but I will also tell you it. only shows the surface. What the. officers actually found on Jonathan's. phone is in the arrest report and it is. why this case is different. Detective. Tyler Mitchell filed his affidavit, a. sworn statement, on October 15th, 2025.

regarding the cyber tip that was traced. back to this family home. And I. mentioned per the report that when. detectives searched Jonathan's phone, they found more than 200 files. Some of. it was material the National Center for. Missing and Exploited Children had. already flagged. Some of it showed. children who appeared to be drugged. Some of it was violent. Some of it was. AI-generated photo-realistic images of. children who don't exist and there was. apparently something else. I mentioned. this before. Reportedly more than 50 photos and.

videos of Jonathan's own parents nude. engaged in sex acts. And the chat logs appeared to show. Jonathan live in a Snapchat group called. Diddy Disciples and in one conversation. he sent a video or appeared to send a. video to another user and then wrote, "I. just like looking at this ass from time. to time." According to a press release. that was issued by the Fishers Police. Department, Jonathan Peternell was. arrested on October 23rd, 2025. He was.

charged with child exploitation and. multiple counts of possession of child. sexual abuse material. He did not post. bond. He remained in custody throughout. the entirety of the court proceedings. As for his father, Nathan Peternell, he. was never charged, but weeks after his. son's arrest, the church district. reviewed his conduct and according to. reporting from 24 Site News, Nathan sent. an email to congregants that the outlet. says it reviewed reading in part, "After. a careful and thorough review, the.

district executive presbytery concluded. that certain personal behaviors related. to my use and retention of private. digital content involving my spouse fell. short of the standards expected of a. credentialed minister and were. determined to be unbecoming of. ministerial leadership. With grace and a. heart towards restoration, I have been. invited to enter a structured. restorative process beginning March 1st. I will step into that process under the. guidance of the Indiana district. leadership. The outcome moving forward.

is this, in the short term, I will focus. fully on this season of restoration. In. the long term, the plan is for me to. remain the lead pastor of Life Church as. I walk through and complete the. restorative process. Although I do have. to make this clear, Nathan kept his job. and he was never charged with a crime, okay? He's never been implicated in. official wrongdoing. But now comes the question. What does a. judge do with this young man, this. pastor's son, who had seemingly. everything, family, future, faith, and.

apparently threw it all away. for all of this? So, according to court. records, in January of 2026, Jonathan Peternell pleaded guilty. Pleaded guilty to one count of child. exploitation. This is a level four. felony and three counts of possession of. child sexual abuse material. That plea. agreement left the sentence up to the. judge with one condition, the maximum he. could receive was 6 years. So, on February 13th, 2026, Judge Mark. Dudley handed down his decision. And.

according to reporting from the Indiana. Citizen, before sentencing, Jonathan. spoke. He said he was deeply sorry. He. said he hated his sin. He looked at his parents and said, the. outlet reports, "I'm sorry for putting. you in this humiliating situation. You've been dishonored. Your wonderful. reputations have been ruined. Your names. have been dragged through the mud all. because I cared about myself more than. you." And then the judge spoke. Judge. Dudley said he had handled many similar. cases, told Jonathan, per the Indiana.

Citizen, "Certainly, I've sentenced a. fair number of people that have. committed offenses similar to this, and. on a spectrum, you're not on the worst. end, but egregious behavior is egregious. behavior. You just happen to be on the. lower end of that spectrum." Said he was. not convinced Jonathan posed no risk of. reoffending, talked about the broader. impact of child exploitation offenses. telling Jonathan, "You alluded to it, but what you do affects what other. people do and has them exploit minors. That's pretty darn serious, and my. sentencing reflects that.".

And then he handed down the maximum. allowed under the plea agreement, 6. years, 4 years in the Indiana Department. of Correction and 2 years suspended to. probation, and also lifetime. registration as a sex offender. That's all we have for you right now. here on Sidebar, everybody. Thank you so. much for joining us, and as always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple. Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should. get your podcasts. You can also check us. out on NBC's Peacock as well. If you. want to follow me, X, Instagram, [music]. my NewsNation show, Jesse Weber LIVE,

Monday through Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. I'll see you next time, everybody. >> [music]. >> Mhm.