OCEAN COUNTY – A Hillsborough man was deemed guilty on June 20, on one count of 2nd degree Sexual Assault for two incidents of sexual relations with a 15 year old in Barnegat and Hillsborough Townships, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Alan D. Harbatuk, 71, was arrested in October 2014 by the Somerset County Prosecutors Office on charges stemming from sexual misconduct in Hillsborough and Barnegat dating back to 2003.
From there, the case was transferred into the hands of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office where Harbatuk was to be prosecuted together with co-defendant Raymond Waters.
Waters was charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault and Sexual Assault for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with the same victim while he was a teacher at Toms River North High School. His future trial date is undetermined.
Following Harbatuk’s guilty verdict, he has since been sent to the Ocean County Jail, pending sentencing. Harbatuk is facing 5-10 years in state prison with Megan’s Law required registration and Parole Supervision for Life.
The case was tried by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Kristin L. Pressman before the Honorable Therese A. Cunningham, J.S.C. The case was investigated by Sgt. Jason Steele of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, Somerset County Prosecutors Office Detective Justin Berger, Hillsborough Police Department Detective Robert Meszaros, as well as, Detective Tom Grosse and retired Detective Alex Scherer of the Toms River Police Department.
