Canyon County, Idaho — Matthew Masiewicz, 53, a senior pastor at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Nampa, was arrested on September 23 on multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child.
According to the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, Masiewicz faces six counts of distributing child pornography through an anonymous messaging app, six counts of possessing pornographic material, and one count of using artificial intelligence (AI) to alter images to create child pornography.
Each distribution charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years, while possession charges carry up to 10 years. The AI-related charge could also result in up to 30 years in prison, as outlined by 3rd District Judge John Meierhofer during Masiewicz’s arraignment. His bond was set at $2 million.
Masiewicz has denied any physical contact with children but admitted to using AI technology to alter images to produce child pornography, according to court documents.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 7. Masiewicz remains in custody at the Canyon County jail. Authorities have not confirmed whether there are any local victims connected to the case.
