An Egg Harbor Township man who worked as a kindergarten aide at a local school is now accused of molesting three sisters he often babysat.
George Getty III, 29, was arrested Saturday, and faces eight counts, including the first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a now-10-year-old girl.
He had been working at the Atlantic Christian School, who immediately notified parents of the allegations Saturday, in an email sent by Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen.
"To the best of our knowledge, and after speaking with the detective handling his case, none of the minors involved were students from" the school, Oblen wrote.
"Please know that the safety and protection of our students is always our highest priority," she continued. "We first learned of this news today from law enforcement and we are grateful to them that they gave us the time to notify our families before the public became aware."
Getty was a friend of the girls' family, and often babysat the three sisters and their two brothers both at his home and at the home of their grandfather, who also lives in the township, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
The children's mother notified Egg Harbor Township police last Wednesday, saying her daughters told her that Getty had sexually assaulted them.
All of the children, now ages 8 to 14, spoke with detective that day, when all three girls reported some form of molestation.
The now-10-year-old said it happened several times, starting when she was about 6, and included aggravated sexual assault, the affidavit states.
Neither boy reported any abuse. The now-12-year-old said he saw Getty massage his sisters' backs and that the man spent one-on-one time in his bedroom with each of the girls.
The oldest sibling, a now-14-year-old boy, said Getty had Barbie dolls, which the boy "attributed to Getty working at a school."
"We are shocked and saddened by this news, as this type of behavior is counter to everything we teach and uphold," Atlantic Christian's Oblen wrote.
In her email, Oblen explained that potential employees undergo federal and state background checks, and personal and professional references are contacted.
Until Saturday, Getty did not have any criminal record, she stressed.
Employees who work with younger students also "receive regular Child Abuse Record Information checks to ensure that new cases do not arise throughout the duration of their employment," Oblen continued.
Getty is currently in the Atlantic County Justice Facility awaiting a detention hearing set for later this week.
NOTE: The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office remains under a policy that bars the jail from releasing mugshots.
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