Ex-Montco Pastor Gets 200 Years For Abusing Infant, Child

HATBORO, PA — A former Montgomery County pastor who sexually abused an infant and a young girl was sentenced to 200 years in federal prison on Thursday.

Jerry Zweitzig, 71, of Hatboro, photographed and recorded video of the abuse and also had a collection of more than 10,000 images of child pornography involving thousands of other children. He was pastor of Horsham Bible Church at the time of the abuse.

"The level of depravity in these cases leaves me almost speechless," said U.S. Attorney William McSwain. "I will simply say this — today's sentence ensures that Zweitzig will die in prison, which is probably a better fate than what he deserves."

Zweitzig pleaded guilty to five counts of manufacturing and attempted manufacturing of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in the case of the young girl. In the case of the infant, he pleaded to one count of manufacturing and one count of attempted manufacturing of child pornography.

Judge Wendy Beetlestone sentenced him to 200 years in prison and lifetime supervised release.

According to prosecutors, both the girl, who was under 10 years old, and the infant were in Zweitzig's care at the time of the abuse.

Prosecutors say he sexually exploited the girl over a period of years, often recording the abuse. He made a video in 2010 in which the six-month-old boy is coaxed into a sex act. Zweitzig's voice can be heard repeatedly saying "That's a good boy" in the video, prosecutors said.

Zweitzig was pastor at Horsham Bible Church, an independent church on Upland Avenue. He left that post in 2016 and the church building has since been sold. He was arrested in December 2018.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Horsham Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.