Text messages between a former Toms River teacher and the student he is accused of sexually assaulting in 2007, led to criminal charges 12 years later.Shawn Lee, 47, is charged with second-degree sexual assault for the Sept. 15, 2007 incident involving a then- student, according to the charge.An investigation began back in 2013, according to the affidavit obtained by BreakingAC.The man told police that he was a student at Toms River High School East and was 15 or 16 years old when Lee engaged in sexual activity with him.No criminal charges were filed at that time.Then, on Sept. 19 of this year, the victim came to Toms River police with text messages from that day between him and Lee, the affidavit says.In them, Lee allegedly acknowledged that the victim was only 16 years old at the time.The victim told police that Lee performed oral sex on him in the parking lot of Toms River Intermediate East when the victim was a junior at the high school and Lee was his coach.What sport Lee coached is redacted from the affidavit provided to BreakingAC.Lee admitted to the incident Oct. 1, in an online conversation he believed he was having with the victim, but instead was having with Detective Jason LaRaia.LaRaia previously listened in on a phone call between the victim and Lee, when Lee made a comment about seeing the victim naked.Police obtained a search warrant for Lee, his vehicle and his cell phone. On Oct. 4, he gave police a taped statement admitting to the sexual assault, the affidavit states.He was released from the Ocean County Jail on Thursday, following a detention hearing. The investigation is ongoing.Police are asking that anyone who may have been a victim of Lee or who has information regarding the investigation to call Toms River Police Detective Tom Grosse at 732-349-0150, ext. 1263. He can also be emailed at tgrosse@trpolice.org.
