Bronx School Aide, 21, Sexually Abused 8-Year-Old Girls in Stairwell: Official

 A 21-year-old aide at an after-school program in the Bronx allegedly repeatedly sexually abused two 8-year-old girls in a stairwell and inappropriately touched a 7-year-old girl, according to a report by the Special Commissioner of Investigation.

Steven Walters, an aide employed by Good Shepherd Services to work in an after-school program at the School of Science and Applied Learning in the Bronx, was arrested July 15 on charges relating to his alleged sexual abuse of one of the 8-year-old girls.

Authorities began investigating last November after one of the 8-year-old's parents called to report Walters had allegedly called the child into a hallway and sexually abused her in a stairwell.

According to investigators, Walters provided a detailed account of his sexual misconduct involving that student and another student who denied to investigators that abuse had occurred.

Walters told authorities he took one of the 8-year-old girls to a second-floor staircase and positioned them to ensure they would not be seen. He told authorities, in graphic detail, how he sexually abused the child and told her not to say anything to anyone, according to the report from the Special Commissioner of Investigation's office.

Walters told authorities he abused the same child a week or two later, according to the report. Within the same month, he said he encountered two children in a classroom alone. He said he took one of the students into a bathroom, located in the classroom, and told the other student to wait for her, the report says. He said he sexually abused the student in the bathroom, and told investigators that, prior to that, he had sexually abused the same student at least three times in the stairwell, according to the report.

The school aide told investigators the child never saw his genitals because he had her put a hooded sweatshirt over her head. Walters told authorities he abused the child for about five minutes each time, according to the report.

He allegedly said he took one of the 8-year-old girls to the staircase more than the other because she was "more his type."

Walters told investigators he knew what he did was wrong and needed help to stop, the report says.

Walters allegedly confessed to abusing the two children, but investigators say they found he allegedly inappropriately touched a third. That student said Walters would sit next to her when she asked for help with her homework. The student alleged that one day, Walters put his hand on the inside of her upper thigh and told her her leg felt warm. When asked whether Walters touched her buttocks, investigators say the student's eyes welled up and she did not respond.

It wasn't immediately clear if Walters would face additional charges. It also wasn't known if he had retained an attorney.

Neither the Department of Education, nor Good Shepherd Services could immediately be reached for comment.

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