Andrew Showers
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A former Priest with the Catholic Diocese of Madison is being held on a $15,000 cash bond, accused of attempting to groom an underage girl for sexual activity.
Andrew Showers faces one felony count of grooming and two counts of bail jumping after he was caught communicating with an undercover officer, who was posing as an underage girl. The conversation led officers to issue an arrest warrant for him late last week, and he turned himself in to the Marathon County Jail on Friday.
The bail jumping count stems from a similar case filed in Waupaca County last year, accusing Showers of traveling to Clintonville to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex. Instead, he was arrested at the designated meetup. In that case, he was also communicating with an undercover officer.
Charges against him in Waupaca County include possession of child pornography and attempted child sexual assault. In both cases, he faces decades in prison if found guilty at trial.
Officials with the Diocese of Madison restricted him from public activity immediately after his arrest in Clintonville. Pope Leo XIV dismissed him earlier this year, ending his ties with the Catholic Church.
Should he post the cash bond in Marathon County, his access to the internet and other communication methods, including text messages and social media, would be heavily restricted. Terms also include a full no-contact order against minors. He is also required to stay in Wisconsin.
Showers has not posted the cash as of Monday afternoon. Further court action is scheduled for October 8th.
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