TOMS RIVER, October 23, 2026 — A Toms River attorney who also served in several municipal roles in Jackson was taken into custody Thursday on multiple counts of possessing and distributing child sexual‑abuse material. The arrest, announced by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, follows a coordinated investigation that traced illegal activity to the lawyer’s home in Berkeley Township and his office in Toms River.
Arrest and Charges
Robert Charles Shea, Jr., 42, was booked at the Ocean County Jail on two counts under New Jersey’s child‑endangerment statute, 2C:24‑4B(5) — each described as “END WELFARE CHILD SELL PHOTO” (Shore News Network). Prosecutors say the charges stem from possession and distribution of lewd images of children on peer‑to‑peer networks. Shea remains incarcerated pending a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday, as required by New Jersey’s bail‑reform framework (Shore News Network).
Investigation Trail
The case began with a cyber‑tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, forwarded to the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (Shore News Network). Detectives from the prosecutor’s High Tech Crime Squad and Berkeley Township police traced IP addresses linked to a Snapchat account to Shea’s Berkeley Township residence and the Toms River office of R.C. Shea & Associates. A court‑authorized search warrant was executed at the home on October 22, and forensic analysis of several phones uncovered numerous child‑sexual‑abuse images (Shore News Network). A separate search of the Toms River office yielded another phone containing the same Snapchat application and an image that had been shared (Shore News Network).
Political Fallout
Jackson Mayor Jennifer Kuhn responded immediately, announcing that the township would terminate its relationship with Shea’s firm, R.C. Shea & Associates, effective that day (Shore News Network). She also called on the Planning Board to remove Shea as its attorney, describing the allegations as “a complete and utter shock” (Shore News Network). Municipal records list Shea as Jackson’s public defender, Planning Board attorney, Zoning Board conflict attorney, and special legal counsel (Shore News Network). The mayor’s statement, posted on Facebook, emphasized her horror at the arrest and her expectation that “if true, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” (Yahoo).
Detention and Next Steps
After his arrest at Berkeley Township Police Headquarters, Shea was transferred to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains awaiting a pre‑trial hearing (Shore News Network). Prosecutor Billhimer credited the collaborative effort of the High Tech Crime Squad, Berkeley Township police, the state‑wide Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for bringing the case forward (Yahoo). No comment was obtained from Shea’s law firm when contacted on Friday (Yahoo). The upcoming detention hearing will determine whether Shea remains in custody or is released under the state’s bail‑reform conditions.
Legal Background and Professional History
Robert Charles Shea, Jr. was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 2017, following the completion of his legal education at Villanova University and Cooley Law School (Shore News Network). His professional career has included multiple roles within Jackson Township, where he served as public defender, Planning Board attorney, Zoning Board conflict attorney, and special legal counsel (Shore News Network). His father, Robert C. Shea, is the owner of R.C. Shea & Associates, the law firm that has represented Jackson Township in various municipal matters (Shore News Network). The firm’s involvement in local governance has been significant, with Shea II’s legal expertise being utilized in a range of municipal functions (Shore News Network). The arrest has raised questions about the oversight of legal professionals in public office, particularly those with dual roles in private practice and municipal service (Shore News Network).
Sources
- BREAKING NEWS: Toms River Attorney, Political Figure Arrested for Distributing Lewd Images of Children
- Update: Toms River Attorney Downloaded Pics at Home and at Work Using Snapchat
- Snapchat tip leads to arrest of N.J. town attorney for child sex abuse images. ‘I’m horrified,’ mayor says.
Photo: Matthew Ansley / Unsplash (Unsplash License)
