Watch CBS News

Caregiver Arrested In Molestation Of Autistic Child

NORTHRIDGE (CBS) — An in-home caregiver has been arrested on suspicion of molesting a child with autism in the San Fernando Valley and police say he may have other victims.

jeremy-stockton
(credit: LAPD)

Jeremy Shawn Stockton, who works as a caregiver to children with developmental needs, was taken into custody last Wednesday.

The 29-year-old suspect is an employee of Wellspring, a local agency that specializes in behavioral intervention for young children with autism.

Stockton began working for Wellspring as an in-home caregiver for developmentally disabled children in May 2008, police said.

Police say Stockton has worked in a variety of positions where he had access to children, including as a special education trainee at Ulysses S. Grant High School in Van Nuys, with developmentally disabled children at the YMCA facility in La Canada and at the Valley Therapeutic Recreational Center in North Hollywood.

Stockton was charged with multiple counts of lewd acts against children under 14 and is being held on $1.45 million bail.

Anyone with information about Stockton can call LAPD detectives Teresa Pikor at (818) 832-0985 or Casey Cox at (818) 832-0978.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.