Joshua Shea seemingly had it all. A loving wife, two children, and a supportive extended family. In 2010, after nearly fifteen years working his way up the journalism ladder, he launched a lifestyle magazine in his hometown. Within a year, he was one of the founders of Central Maine's largest film festival and had won a seat on the City Council in Auburn, Maine. Accolades, including receiving the Key to the City and being called one of the "Next 10 People Shaping Maine's Economy" by a state newspaper followed.
While the public got one picture of Shea, behind closed doors, his longtime mental health and addiction issues were festering. A workaholic by nature, he actively ignored the red flags surrounding his long-existing pornography and alcohol problems. Finding it easier to lose himself in a bottle of tequila and adult websites, Shea's relationships with his family, colleagues, and friends grew distant. His business ventures began to collapse.
Life as he knew it came to a screeching halt when he was arrested on a charge relating to encouraging a teenager to disrobe in a chatroom in 2013. Following his arrest in March 2014, he sought help and treatment through intense one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and at inpatient rehab facilities. Shea was convicted and served six months in jail in early 2016.