Parrish foster parent arrested after sexually abusing 2 children, deputies say
A Parrish man is facing charges for inappropriately touching and sexually abusing two children, according to court records.
John Jay Showers Jr. faces charges of sexual battery by a familial authority and lewd and lascivious molestation. Showers, 56, is a Manatee County social worker and adoptive father to 13 children. He and his wife also won an award from the Safe Children Coalition for “Outstanding Adoptive Family,” the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.
The charges come after two children told the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office that Showers molested them when they were younger, court records show.
One boy reported being inappropriately touched by Showers from age 11 to 15, and said that Showers would sexually abuse, according to court records.
On March 5, detectives attempted to conduct a controlled phone call between the boy and Showers. According to court records, the boy asked Showers if he remembers sexually abusing him, and Showers immediately hung up the phone.
The other boy said he was around 11 to 12 years old when Showers began inappropriately touching him, and said that Showers would sexually abuse, court records say.
Court records also say that detectives had concerns about Showers sexually abusing other children, but that no others had come forward.
Showers remains in custody at the Manatee County Jail.
