Texas Man Faces Murder Charge After Pretending To Be A Minor Online In Order To Kill Child Sex Offender
22-year-old James Spencer III, of Houston, Texas, has been charged with murder after supposedly posing online as a minor in order to kill a convicted sex offender.
Authorities say that in May 2023, Spencer shot and killed 37-year-old Sean Showers.
On May 29, Showers went up to a vehicle and was shot. After investigating, Spencer was apprehended after confessing to the killing.
Authorities say that Showers was located in a ditch with several gunshot injuries.
Documents show that Spencer acted as if he was minor online in order to get Showers to meet up with him for sex after believing that Showers was a sex offender.
In 2009, Showers had pled guilty to possessing child sex abuse material. He was then sentenced to 30 months in prison. Then, in 2019, he was given 2 years in prison for not registering as a sex offender.
Prosecutors say that Spencer arranged the meeting and was aware of where Showers would be the night of the killing.
“Regardless of the likability of the victim, we’re a nation of laws. So no one gets to be judge, jury, and executioner depending on how they feel,” stated prosecutor Rehaman Merchant.
