Madison Priest Pleads Not Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

Judge enters plea on behalf of 38-year-old priest facing multiple counts

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:06am

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An extreme close-up of a shattered smartphone screen reflecting a faint blue glow, conceptually representing the digital evidence at the heart of this child exploitation case.Digital evidence plays a central role in the case against a Wisconsin priest charged with possession of child pornography.Berlin Today

A Madison priest named Andrew Showers has been charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. The 38-year-old priest, who previously served at churches in several Wisconsin towns, waved his preliminary hearing and stood mute, forcing the judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Why it matters

The charges against Showers, a member of the clergy, raise serious concerns about the protection of minors and the accountability of religious institutions. This case highlights the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the need for robust safeguards to prevent such crimes, especially within positions of trust and authority.

The details

According to the court proceedings, Showers was also previously charged with attempted sexual assault, child enticement, and use of a computer for a sex crime. These additional charges stemmed from digital evidence found on his electronic devices, indicating he had tried to meet up with a 14-year-old girl who was actually an undercover police officer.

  • The charges against Showers were filed on April 15, 2026.

The players

Andrew Showers

A 38-year-old priest who previously served at churches in several Wisconsin towns, including Berlin, Green Lake, Madison, Waunakee, Clinton, and Wisconsin Dells.

Waupaca County Court

The court that handled the preliminary hearing and entered the not guilty plea on behalf of Showers.

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What’s next

The case against Showers will now proceed to trial, where he will have the opportunity to mount a defense against the charges.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical need for religious institutions and positions of authority to have robust safeguards and accountability measures in place to protect vulnerable individuals, especially children, from exploitation and abuse.