A teacher’s aide is facing 61 charges after he allegedly filmed himself sexually assaulting multiple children inside the elementary school where he worked.
Shaun M. Stebbins of Somers Point, New Jersey, was previously arrested on March 29 on several charges, including aggravated sexual assault and child sex abuse material offenses in connection with allegations that he abused four children, who are siblings, over a span of several years.
That sexual assault investigation revealed additional alleged crimes involving students at Woodbine Elementary School in Cape May County, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office announced in a Thursday, October 30, news release.
Investigators discovered Stebbins, 44 — who worked at the school as a pre-kindergarten aide — allegedly took photos and video of children’s genitalia inside a school bathroom, per court documents obtained by WPVI-TV.
Stebbins also allegedly filmed himself sexually assaulting children in the bathroom and during their scheduled nap time.
Stebbins was charged on October 30 with 29 counts of manufacturing child pornography, five counts of aggravated sexual assault, 13 counts of sexual assault by sexual contact and 14 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to prosecutors.
“Children are among our most vulnerable population and we have a responsibility to protect their safety and well-being. Anyone who harms a child will be held accountable through our justice system,” Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland said in an October 30 statement.
Stebbins was hired at Woodbine Elementary School in February 2022 and worked at the school for more than four years and until his arrest earlier this year in the separate child sexual assault case, prosecutors said.
In the other case, Stebbins allegedly sexually assaulted four siblings — all of whom are his extended family members — for over a decade, according to NJ.com.
Woodbine School District Superintendent Adrienne Breitinger previously said in a letter to families that the district immediately sought to replace Stebbins following his March 29 arrest, the outlet reported.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority,” Breitinger wrote.
Stebbins attended a virtual court appearance Monday in connection with the alleged crimes against students and was ordered detained ahead of his next court date, which is set for November 4, per WPVI-TV.
Information on his legal counsel or whether he entered a plea wasn’t immediately available.
The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office encourages anyone with information on Stebbins’ case to contact the office’s special victims unit at (609) 465-1135. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
