Steinhatchee Deacon Sentenced to 22 Years for Child Porn

Jonathan High, 31, of Steinhatchee, Florida, has been sentenced to a harrowing 22 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

In a bench trial on October 4, 2022, High was found guilty of two counts of using a child to produce child porn. Prior to the trial, he admitted to one count of possession of child pornography. This conviction follows his guilty plea.

‘Child predators seek to prey upon our children in any setting imaginable – here from within a house of worship,’ U.S. Attorney Coody commented. ‘This sentence is a stark reminder that we are unwavering in protecting the most vulnerable among us.’

The investigation began in August 2021 when law enforcement received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding High’s cloud storage account. An examination of his devices revealed multiple child porn images and videos, including some produced by him personally at a church where he served as a deacon.

HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips emphasized the commitment of HSI special agents: ‘Our message is clear: HSI will tirelessly pursue justice for those who prey upon our children.’ High’s sentence includes lifetime supervised release, sex offender registration, and restitution for victims.

The joint investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the North Florida ICAC Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and Kaitlin Weiss prosecuted the case.