Walling case resolved under plea agreement

BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — A local zoning board member and history teacher has pleaded guilty to a disorderly persons offense, thus avoiding a trial on charges he harassed a 17-year-old female student.

After months of legal wrangling and postponed court hearings, the case against Richard Walling, 47, was resolved in Old Bridge municipal court last week. His attorney, Joseph Benedict, worked out a deal with the township prosecutor whereby charges of harassment and hindering apprehension would be downgraded to a municipal offense. The plea bargain spares Walling the prospect of facing the more serious state statute charges.

Walling, who was given a $500 fine by Judge Susan Scarola, said he agreed to undergo psychological evaluation and will not be permitted to teach again.

He said he had already been planning to leave the field and start a construction company with his brother.

A former township councilman and Planning Board member, Walling told the Sentinel he just wanted to resolve the matter, which had been pending since March when he was charged by East Brunswick police.

The charges involved Walling’s relationship with a 17-year-old girl who was a student of his at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School, Rues Lane. In a police report, the student describes events including a movie outing in December 2003 after which Walling allegedly asked to kiss her. Walling is also accused of sending the girl numerous cell phone text messages, which were of a “sexual and annoying” nature. The report also says he tried to convince another student to take responsibility for the messages.

The girl, whose name is being withheld, described to police a trail of harassment, including alleged instances where Walling grabbed her around the hips at school one day, and that he showed up at her workplace numerous times despite being told not to do so.

In speaking to police, Walling and the girl agreed on some aspects of their relationship and on some events, but Walling refuted others, especially those that could implicate him in illegal activity. Walling described their relationship as mentor-student, while the girl said he attempted to have a more intimate relationship.

Walling has maintained he is not guilty of the two greater charges. He said his plea bargain was made to avoid the legal costs of a trial and having to depose other students. He said the matter has been emotionally draining on him and his family, that he paid more than $7,000 in legal fees and would have had to pay far more had there been a trial.

Walling, whose late mother, Jean, was mayor of East Brunswick in the 1970s, served as a Democrat on the Township Council in the late 1980s. An outspoken critic of the current administration, Walling had said prior to his being charged this year that he was considering running for local office again as a Democrat or an independent.

A current member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Walling said he plans to continue serving in that capacity and will stay involved with community activities. A local historical enthusiast, Walling has for many years led the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield.

Walling said he and his brother are starting up Homeward Bound Construction, which will specialize in affordable housing.

“We look forward to helping develop and build affordable housing for all the members of our community — the young homemaker, the working class who can’t afford ‘McMansions,’ and the seniors who are being taxed out of their homes,” he said.

Court hearings on Walling’s charges were postponed several times, and Walling missed one court date in August. He said he had simply shown up hours late that day due to a miscommunication. The vo-tech school district placed him on leave this fall after his failure to appear for the court hearing.