Prosecutor: Ex-Wall Superintendent Cheated On Vacation Time, Forced Employees To Cover It Up

Testimony has begun in the trial of James Habel, the former superintendent of the Wall Township Schools, on charges of theft and official misconduct during his nine years in charge of the school district.

According to the Asbury Park Press, Habel is accused of taking more than 100 days off from work but not documenting the days, then cashing in ”unused” days for a $240,000 payout to his retirement accounts.

Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Melanie Falco, who is leading the prosecution of Habel on 12 criminal counts, alleged that during Habel’s nine-year tenure as Wall’s school superintendent, he took off from work more than 100 days, but only recorded four on his attendance record.

Defense attorney Robert A. Honecker of the Ocean Township law firm Ansell, Grimm and Aaron said the prosecutor’s office was out to get Habel, 58, who now lives in Florida.

Witnesses began testifying as well, with Peggy Foley, Habel’s executive secretary in the school district, who testified about his frequent absences from work.

Habel never called in or corresponded with her when he was out, Foley said.

In addition to defrauding the district of vacation pay and tampering with records, the state also alleges Habel failed to return about $8,700 worth of electronics equipment to the district when he retired, and he misrepresented his personal usage of a $60,000 Yukon Denali purchased for him by the school district. The state also alleges Habel committed theft by lying on a $600,000 refinancing of his Point Pleasant home, falsely saying it was his primary residence and failing to tell the lender he was planning to retire.

Habel is free on $225,000 bail.