South Jersey pre-kindergarten aide charged with sexually assaulting kids over 10-year span

SOMERS POINT, N.J. (WPVI) -- A New Jersey man who worked as a teacher's aide is accused of sexually abusing multiple children over a decade.

Shaun Stebbins, 43, of Somers Point, was arrested Sunday and charged with sexual assault of a child, photographing a child in a sex act and other related offenses, authorities said.

Court documents allege Stebbins abused four siblings in his home between 2014 and 2025.

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, one of the victims, now an adult, came forward last week. That report led investigators to identify three additional victims, all siblings.

"Persons who commit these types of acts put themselves in positions where they have access to children, and it's exactly what happened in this particular case," said William Reynolds of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

Authorities said Stebbins has worked as a pre-kindergarten teacher's aide at Woodbine Elementary School since 2022. Prosecutors expressed concern that additional victims could exist and urged parents to remain alert.

"We really need to be vigilant, and if the parents are notified by their children, we would request they immediately call local law enforcement where they live," Reynolds said.

The school district sent a memo to parents explaining that Stebbins was contracted through the vendor ESS. Action News obtained the letter, which stated in part, "Upon being informed of the arrest, the district immediately requested a replacement aide. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority."

Some parents said the news was alarming.

"I just went to my son and asked him if he knows the teacher. And I showed him the teacher, and he said, 'Yes,'" said Emanuel Rios, a parent with three children at Woodbine Elementary School, including one enrolled in the pre-kindergarten program.

"They gotta investigate. We need to know what happened. It's concerning. There's a lot of kids with disabilities there," Rios said.

ESS has not responded to requests for comment.

Stebbins is being held at the Atlantic County Detention Facility pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday. Court records list no attorney for him at this time.