How Could You? Hall of Shame-John David Ballard

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Pinellas County, Florida, foster and adoptive father, John David Ballard, 51, “was arrested on Wednesday morning [June 17, 2026] for child sex crimes.

According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the investigation began after the sheriff’s office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on May 12.

The tip claimed that a man identified as John David Ballard, 51, was using the “Kik” app to tell others that he was sexually abusing his 7-year-old son.

Gualtieri told reporters that Ballard communicated via Kik with three separate people on three separate occasions in late April and early May, during which he allegedly described the sexual acts he was engaged in with his son and other young children.

Deputies learned that Ballard accessed his Kik account from his cell phone at his home and the Always Gossips hair salon, which he owns.

Investigators learned that Ballard and his husband were foster parents licensed by the state, and fostered 23 different boys in their home between 2017 and 2023. The two also adopted five boys between 2015 and 2023.

There are currently four boys living in their home. One of the adoptive boys, now an adult, lives out of state, the sheriff said.

The children all ranged from four to 12-years-old while living with the couple.

Gualtieri said the two were active in the foster family community and were featured in a local media story for Adoption Day in 2024. The couple also authored a book for adoptive parents, titled “Our Journey: A collection of moments that make a lifetime.”

Detectives served a search warrant for Ballard’s cellphone on June 3, during which Gualtieri says the suspect admitted that he was engaging in these sexual discussions, but claimed he was doing so “because it was safer for him to do it than other people.”

“When detectives made a preliminary determination that there were videos on Ballard’s cellphone of people engaging in sexual activities with animals, he allegedly told them, “I’m into some really weird stuff.”

Detectives conducted a forensic analysis on Ballard’s cellphone and determined that he was accessing sites to download and view “very graphic child pornography,” Gualtieri said. Deputies also verified that the cellphone contained bestiality pornography.

Investigators found dozens of images of child pornography involving children as young as two months old on Ballard’s cellphone, according to Gualtieri.

The sheriff said Ballard was engaged in “graphic” discussions with other men about engaging in sexual acts with children.”

“Ballard was arrested Wednesday morning on 20 counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of possession of sexual activity involving animals.

Gualtieri said investigators have interviewed nearly all of Ballard’s adoptive and foster children, some of whom described “concerning behavior” that is still under investigation.

Some of the boys told investigators that Ballard would punish them by making them strip naked and stand in front of a window facing the street, and he often watched the boys while they showered or took baths.

Gualtieri said deputies have not established probable cause to charge Ballard with additional crimes, and his husband has not been arrested as of Wednesday afternoon.”

“The Department of Children and Families is conducting a parallel child welfare investigation, and they will determine what will be done with the four boys still living in Ballard’s home.”[YIKES! Unbelievable that they have not removed the kids yet! ]

REFORM Puzzle Piece