NAMPA (ID)
The Roys Report [Chicago IL]
September 25, 2025
By Liz Lykins
An Idaho pastor faces a slew of charges for alleged possession and distribution of child sex abuse material, which a local judge called “horrific.”
Matthew Masiewicz, the senior pastor at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Nampa, Idaho, was arraigned Wednesday at the Canyon County Magistrate Court, according to court records.
Masiewicz, 53, faces 13 charges: Six counts of knowingly distributing child sexually exploitative material, six counts of willfully possessing or accessing child sexually exploitative material, and one count of visual representations of the sexual abuse of a minor. The final charge means that some of the abuse materials were AI-generated.
The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to Sovereign Grace Fellowship for comment but did not hear back prior to publication.
But Sam Vanderwall, an elder at the church, told the Idaho Statesman that Masiewicz was fired as soon as they learned of the charges. Elders then informed the congregation in a church-wide message.
“This is a grievous sin and something he hid thoroughly,” the message read in part. “Please be in prayer for the Masiewicz family. They were also caught completely unaware by the secret sin that was taking place in Matt’s heart and actions.”
Vanderwall added that the church community is in shock.
“We are actively looking into any possible and all people who may have been affected,” Vanderwall said to the publication. “And if anyone has any knowledge they need to share, please reach out to our church office or the elders at Sovereign Grace.”
Sovereign Grace Fellowship describes itself as a Reformed Evangelical Christian church that is nondenominational, according to its website. The church also aligns itself with Reformed Baptist beliefs.
Masiewicz has worked at the church since 2012, and became lead pastor in 2020, according to an archived profile for the pastor. He is married and has six children and three grandchildren.
Masiewicz allegedly sent images using Kik
The pastor’s crimes allegedly started as early as March 2025, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KTVB-TV, Channel 7 in Boise.
Authorities started investigating Masiewicz in August after the Idaho Crimes Against Children (ICAC) was notified that Masiewicz sent six files of child sexual abuse materials through Kik, an online messaging app, the affidavit said.
Masiewicz was logged into Kik under the username “GeneralAbner,” and was involved in a group called “Church Pastors,” the affidavit noted. “GeneralAbner” allegedly used AI to “alter images of women to make them look younger,” according to the affidavit.
ICAC officials traced back an email address, username, and two IP addresses and tied them to Masiewicz and the Sovereign Grace Fellowship, the affidavit said.
On Tuesday, a search warrant was issued and authorities searched Masiewicz’s home and the church, where they found the explicit material on his laptop and phone.
Masiewicz allegedly admitted to using AI to make women appear underage, but he said he didn’t think he was doing anything illegal, according to the affidavit.
During Wednesday’s hearing, a prosecutor alleged that one of the images Masiewicz made portrayed a girl who was five or six years old, according to a recording of the hearing from KTVB-TV.
Judge John Meienhofer issued Masiewicz a bail of $2 million and issued him a no-contact order, excluding Masiewicz’s 17-year-old son, according to Idaho News 6.
“He’s in a position of trust. This has been going on for months,” Meienhofer said. “The images are horrific as described. This is not a situation where he should be getting out under any circumstances. If I could do no bail, I would, but I can’t.”
The judge noted that each of Masiewicz’s distribution charges carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison, and the possession count can result in up to 10 years. The AI-related charge has a potential sentence of up to 30 years
Masiewicz will next be in court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 7.