Robert Shea II Charged With Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material
- Ocean County attorney Robert Shea, II faces charges of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material following a law enforcement investigation triggered by a digital tip.
- Law enforcement officials linked specific IP addresses used for the file transfers to a residence in Berkeley Township and an office building located in Toms River.
- Following the public disclosure of the charges, Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer Kuhn announced she was terminating the township's professional relationship with Shea's law firm.
Ocean County attorney Robert Shea, II faces charges of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material following a law enforcement investigation triggered by a digital tip. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer confirmed that the investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities to the exchange of illicit images on Snapchat, Daily Voice reported.
Search Warrants and Digital Evidence
Law enforcement officials linked specific IP addresses used for the file transfers to a residence in Berkeley Township and an office building located in Toms River. On Thursday, Oct. 22, authorities executed search warrants at both locations. During the operation, investigators seized multiple mobile devices belonging to Shea. Subsequent forensic analysis of these cell phones revealed the presence of child sexual abuse material, according to Billhimer.
Termination of Professional Relationships
Following the public disclosure of the charges, Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer Kuhn announced she was terminating the township’s professional relationship with Shea’s law firm. Kuhn also issued a formal request to the Township Planning Board to remove Shea from his position as their attorney.
A Jackson Township Planning Board attorney has been charged with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, officials said.Robert Shea II was charged Thursday after an investigation revealed he was accessing and sharing the material from his Berkeley Township home…
If true, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In light of these heinous charges, I am officially calling on the Township Planning Board to remove Mr. Shea as their attorney.
Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer Kuhn
Kuhn described the allegations as a complete and utter shock
given her long-standing personal acquaintance with the Shea family. She noted that her primary concerns remain with the families of the alleged victims.
Background on the Accused
Robert Shea, II is an attorney who practiced at R.C. Shea Associates, a law firm owned by his father, Robert Shea. A graduate of Villanova University, he also attended Cooley Law School. Shea is married and has two children.