Disorderly persons charges stem from alleged incident with 15-year-old
By: Scott Morgan
The case against a North Hanover Township committeeman is back in the hands of Plumsted Township Municipal Court, where charges involving a 15-year-old girl were filed last month.
According to Plumsted court records, a New Egypt man filed harassment charges against North Hanover Township Committeeman Paul Bruni on March 15, claiming Mr. Bruni subjected the man’s daughter to "offensive touching, specifically by talking to the victim … about sexual acts, touching her underwear, trying to go in her shirt, playing with her bra strap and attempting to put his mouth on her ear."
The case was investigated by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, which, according to Executive Assistant Prosecutor Robert Gasser, "determined that there was touching … but not a criminal-type touching," in other words, touching of an overtly sexual nature. Mr. Gasser said the incident, involving the daughter of a friend, "could constitute harassment," but nothing serious enough to warrant criminal charges.
The case has been returned to Plumsted Township court and will be treated as a disorderly persons offense, Mr. Gasser said.
Mr. Bruni’s attorney, Mitchell J. Ansell of Ocean, called the situation "a very large misunderstanding. My client looks forward to clearing his good name."
Mr. Ansell added that details of the case could be discussed at greater length after the case is treated in court. Mr. Bruni was scheduled to appear before a Plumsted court on Wednesday, but due to a scheduling conflict on Mr. Ansell’s part, the date has been postponed and is yet undetermined.