WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THIS?! #Indiana #Churchand State #MicahBeckwith | Forensic Files

I need to tell you a horrific story that is going to get squashed by the algorithm. I'm not kidding. Every person
I talked to this weekend once I found this out, I asked if they knew. I'm talking friends, family, strangers I was
seated next to at a restaurant and not a single person had heard this because our
local news isn't talking about it. This is 24year-old Jonathan Peterno from here
in the Indianapolis area. And last month in October of 2025, Jonathan was arrested and faces multiple felony
charges for possession of C-SPAM. The Fischer Police Department released a statement on behalf of the task force
that arrested him. And it said that a search warrant was conducted on his residence where further evidence was
located showing that he possessed over 200 files of child sexual abuse material. Some of this included seo
masochistic child abuse, children that appear to be drugged or intoxicated while being abused, violent child
molestation, and photo realistic AI generated photos of nude pregnant toddlers. According to 24 News, he also was in
possession of 50 pictures and videos of his mother and father either naked or performing sex acts. And this is who his
father is. Nathan Peternell, the lead pastor of one of the huge mega churches here in the Indianapolis surrounding
area. Now, Nathan has not been legally implicated in any of this, but I think part of the reason people are finding it
so shocking is because of how much him and Micah Beckwith talked about trafficking or child exploitation on
their podcast, Jesus, Sex, and Politics. And they're not just like co-hosts, right? Like in this post from Micah
Beckwith, he says that Nathan is one of his best friends and spiritual brother in-arms. And Micah Beckwith is our
current lieutenant governor. Like I'm not going to stay here all day, but like just do some googling.
Now, he too has not been legally implicated in anything related to Jonathan Peter. now. But he not only is
friends with Nathan, he also, while having this full-time job as lieutenant governor, does have a job as a pastor of
one of the campuses of this church. Now recently 24 sight news had been publishing stories of young women who
have come forward and said that while Nathan Peternell did not physically do anything to them, he was inappropriate
with them when they went to his youth group where he would have small groups in which he would talk to girls as young
as 12 about very sexually explicit things. He did address his congregation and did like a whole prodigal son thing
and cried and said that he was going to like step back for a little bit. And in a move I know all too well from growing
up in churches like this, Micah Beckwith said to the congregation recently, according to Foresight News, that this
is just the enemy spreading lies. I shouldn't listen to

What is going on in Indiana....?

Brief Summary

Jonathan Peterno's arrest for child abuse material shocks, implicating his father, pastor Nathan Peternell, and lieutenant governor Micah Beckwith.

Key points

Jonathan Peterno's Arrest. 24-year-old Jonathan Peterno faces multiple felony charges for possession of C-SPAM.
Shocking Family Connections. The lead pastor, Nathan Peternell, is Jonathan's father, raising eyebrows in the community.
Inappropriate Behavior Allegations. Allegations arise against Nathan Peternell regarding inappropriate conduct with young women.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

This is who his father is.

1:04WatchNov 25, 2025

More from Crime Junkie

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.