On Friday, May 31, the United States Attorney’s Office of Pennsylvania, announced, a Hatboro, Pennsylvania pastor was charged by indictment with multiple counts of child exploitation offenses, including enticing a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct and possession of child pornography.
Jerry Zweitzig, 71, the former pastor of Horsham Bible Church on Upland Avenue in Horsham, faces a maximum possible sentence of 170 years imprisonment.
Authorities allege a Horsham police detective received a call in March 2018 reporting that Pastor Zweitzig had sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl “numerous times” over several years leading up to 2014.
Police interviewed the alleged victim who claimed Pastor Zweitzig took sexually explicit photos of her over 10 years. She also alleges Pastor Zweitzig sexually assaulted her between 2009 and 2014. The photographs and assaults allegedly took place in Montgomery and Lancaster counties.
Horsham police obtained a search warrant and seized computers and electronic storage devices at the Cottonwood Drive home where Pastor Zweitzig lived. The hard drives were forensically analyzed and evidence collected included nude photos and video of the girl and photos of Pastor Zweitzig with the nude girl over a decade.
More than 200 photos were located in which the girl is depicted in various states of undress including while she appeared to be sleeping.
