Jonas Sparrow (aka Nathan Allen White) is the leader of the Children of the Temple, a Judeo-Christian cult centered in a compound outside Pleasant, Arizona. His cult was infiltrated by Echo, in the identity of Esther Carpenter. Agent Lilly from the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) is investigating the cult and informs Boyd that Sparrow is suspected of being in possession of stolen firearms. Jonas is a radical man, willing to set fire to the building with his congregation inside in order to escape from the authorities. Jonas is not a believer himself but displays a personality of a political anarchist.