Two Hillsborough Men, One A Former Teacher, Charged With Sexual Assault Of Toms River Student

By Patricia A. Miller, Patch Staff

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has charged two Hillsborough men, one of whom was a former teacher in Toms River, with the sexual assault of a student back in 2002, abuse that continued for years, according to the victim.

Raymond F. Waters, 63, and Allan Harbatuk, 68, both of Homestead Road, Hillsborough, have been charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano said Thursday.

Toms River Detective Thomas Grosse and Detective Jason Steel of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office arrested Waters on Wednesday, after a 10-month investigation, Coronato said. Harbatuk was arrested in Hillsborough, according to the Somerset County prosecutor’s office.

Waters is a retired teacher from Toms River High School North. The victim told authorities that the sexual abuse began in 2002 when Waters was his art teacher, and continued for years, according to the prosecutor. Harbatuk began sexually abusing the victim in the summer of 2003, when Waters introduced him to Harbatuk. The sexual abuse incidents occurred in both Toms River and Hillsborough Township, Coronato said.

The victim worked at the Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation in Barnegat during the summer of 2003. Waters was a Boy Scout leader with Boy Scouts of America at the time. The sexual abuse by Waters and Harbatuk also occurred at the Boy Scout camp, the victim told authorities.

Detective Justin Berger from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office charged Allan Harbatuk with sexual assault and the welfare of a child. Harbatuk was remanded to the Somerset County Jail, while Waters was taken to the Ocean County Jail.

Ocean County Superior Court Judge Joseph Foster set bail for both at $75,000, with no 10 percent option and ordered a “Nicole’s Law” restraining order, Coronato said.

In Somerset County, Superior Court Judge Yolanda Ciccone set Harbatuk’s bail at t $150,000 cash or bond and ordered him not to have contact with the victim should he post bail.