New Jersey pre-K school aide charged with 61 counts, including child pornography
**Research Findings:**
* **Shaun M. Stebbins’ Age and Residence:** 44 years old, of Somers Point, New Jersey.
* **Initial Arrest Date and Location:** March 29, 2026, in Atlantic County.
* **Initial Charges (Atlantic County):** First-degree aggravated sexual assault of a child, permitting a child to engage in pornography, photographing a child in a sexual act, endangering the welfare of a child, showing obscene material to a minor, and criminal sexual contact. These initial charges related to allegations of abuse against four siblings, spanning from 2014 to 2025, primarily at his Somers Point home.
* **Employment at Woodbine Elementary School:** Teacher’s aide from February 2022 until his arrest on March 29, 2026. He worked with pre-K students.
* **Expansion of Investigation to Cape May County:** In April 2026, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office was notified by Atlantic County authorities and Somers Point Police that their investigation into Stebbins uncovered suspected crimes in Cape May County.
* **Discovery of School-Related Evidence:** A search of Stebbins’ devices revealed images and videos of Woodbine Elementary School students. Court documents allege he filmed and performed sex acts on children in a school bathroom and during nap time.
* **Cape May County Charges Announcement Date:** October 30, 2026.
* **Specific Cape May County Charges:** 29 counts of manufacturing child pornography (first-degree), 5 counts of aggravated sexual assault (first-degree), 13 counts of sexual assault by sexual contact (second-degree), and 14 counts of endangering the welfare of a child (second-degree).
* **Penalties for Charges:** First-degree crimes carry 10-20 years in New Jersey State Prison; second-degree crimes carry 5-10 years.
* **Current Custody Status:** Stebbins remains in the Atlantic County Correctional Facility.
* **Prosecutor’s Statement:** Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland stated, “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.”
* **Woodbine School District Response:** The Woodbine School District removed Stebbins from the classroom after his March arrest. Superintendent Adrienne Breitinger sent a letter to parents confirming his employment through a staffing company and stated the district immediately sought to replace him.
* **Community Concerns:** Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds expressed concern about additional victims, given Stebbins’ access to children through his employment. The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office has asked for public assistance with information related to any incidents.
* **Previous Recognition:** Stebbins was recognized as the Woodbine Elementary School Paraprofessional of the Year for 2024-2025.
### PART 2 — WRITE
A former elementary school aide in New Jersey faces 61 charges, including aggravated sexual assault and manufacturing child sexual abuse material, following an investigation that expanded from Atlantic County into Cape May County. Shaun M. Stebbins, 44, of Somers Point, was initially arrested in March 2026 on charges related to the alleged abuse of four siblings at his home.
Investigators later discovered images and videos of students from Woodbine Elementary School on Stebbins’ electronic devices. Court documents allege Stebbins filmed and performed sex acts on children in a school bathroom and during nap time.
Stebbins worked as a pre-kindergarten teacher’s aide at Woodbine Elementary School from February 2022 until his arrest on March 29, 2026. The Woodbine School District removed him from the classroom after his arrest. Superintendent Adrienne Breitinger previously informed families that Stebbins was employed through a staffing company.
The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office announced the 61 charges against Stebbins on October 30, 2026. These include 29 counts of manufacturing child pornography, 5 counts of aggravated sexual assault, 13 counts of sexual assault by sexual contact, and 14 counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The manufacturing and aggravated sexual assault charges are first-degree offenses, which carry potential prison sentences of 10 to 20 years under New Jersey law. Second-degree offenses typically result in five to 10 years in prison.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland stated, “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.”
Stebbins remains in the Atlantic County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings. The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office continues to investigate and asks anyone with information to contact their Special Victims Unit.
