Prosecutors say a New Jersey pre-K aide filmed himself sexually assaulting students at school, and he now faces 61 criminal counts.
Story Highlights
- Investigators reported finding images and videos of Woodbine Elementary students on the aide’s devices.
- Court documents describe recordings of assaults in a school bathroom and during nap time.
- Charges include manufacturing child sexual abuse material and aggravated sexual assault.
- The aide worked at Woodbine Elementary from 2022 until his arrest, according to prosecutors.
What Prosecutors Allege Was Found
Cape May County prosecutors said investigators recovered numerous images and videos of Woodbine Elementary students from the aide’s electronic devices. Reports say an affidavit of probable cause described material that matched students at the school. A named detective received forensic extraction results from the aide’s phone, computer tower, and internal hard drives, according to coverage of the filings. These discoveries formed the basis for a wide set of charges. The files are protected by law and have not been released publicly.
Media summaries of the court documents state the recordings showed sexual acts in a school bathroom and during classroom nap time. Prosecutors allege the aide recorded himself during some of these incidents. The reporting describes multiple dates and scenes that investigators say occurred on school grounds. Authorities have not identified student victims by name, which is standard in cases involving minors. The case remains in the pretrial phase, and the defendant has not been convicted.
The Charges Announced In Court
Prosecutors charged the aide with 61 counts tied to the alleged conduct at Woodbine Elementary. Reports list 29 counts of manufacturing child sexual abuse material, five counts of aggravated sexual assault, 13 counts of sexual assault by sexual contact, and 14 counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The counts were read during a court appearance and reflect what investigators say is a pattern of school-based abuse supported by the seized files. Each count will be tested in court under New Jersey law.
Coverage identifies the defendant as a pre-kindergarten aide who worked at Woodbine Elementary from 2022 until his arrest. That role gave regular access to young children during the school day. Prosecutors link that access to the alleged bathroom and nap-time incidents described in court filings. Authorities say the digital evidence aligns with the school setting and timelines. Defense arguments have not been detailed in the reports reviewed to date.
Why This Case Hits A National Nerve
This New Jersey case arrives amid wider concern about sexual misconduct by school employees, a problem that experts say is undermeasured nationwide. A review commissioned by the United States Department of Education found few strong studies and no single national tracking system. A later multistate survey reported 11.7 percent of recent graduates experienced some form of educator sexual misconduct, most often comments, not contact. These figures show risk across settings, while not defining rates for severe crimes like those charged here.
Shaun Stebbins, 44, of Somers Point, New Jersey, worked as a teacher's aide at Woodbine Elementary School from 2022 until his arrest in March.
At a video court appearance Monday he had dozens of new charges read, 61 in all according to the Cape May County Prosecutor: 29 counts…
— Michael Mattox – The Mad Ox (@TheRealMadOx) November 4, 2026
Parents across the political spectrum want safe schools and real accountability. They see cases like this as proof that systems can fail children close to home. Prosecutors say digital forensics and school context support the charges in this case. The court process will determine facts and responsibility. For families, the focus now is on child safety, transparent oversight, and making sure adults who work with kids face strong screening, training, and reporting rules that actually work.
Sources:
usmagazine.com, 6abc.com, people.com, nbcphiladelphia.com, breakingac.com, shorenewsnetwork.com, ocnjdaily.com
