Harassment Hearing for Gloucester Township Teacher Postponed

A Gloucester Township municipal court hearing Tuesday for local high school teacher David Clune was postponed.

Clune, 34, is accused of sending 72 text and Facebook messages to ex-students over four days during the July 4th holiday weekend inviting them on dates.

Tuesday's hearing was postponed because municipal prosecutor, John Kennedy, is in a law firm with school solicitor John Wade. The prosecutor requested an alternate venue to avoid a possible conflict of interest just over an hour into an afternoon court session that began an hour late.

Clune did not appear in court. His attorney, Dennis Wexted, said he was not required to attend and has not been charged with a criminal offense. He is charged with a petty disorderly persons offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Clune was arrested on July 10 at his Chestertown Road home and charged with harassment. He is suspended from his teaching position and has been ordered not to have contact with students or staff, and to stay off of school grounds.

Gloucester Township Police say a 17-year-old Timber Creek graduate received 33 text messages from Clune July 4-8, and that Clune was attempting to meet with the teen socially. He also sent 39 Facebook messages to an 18-year-old July 4-6, also attempting to meet with her, Gloucester Township Police report.

Clune was only charged in the messages involving the 17-year-old; the other student originally decided not to press charges.

Neither student met with Clune, police report.

Clune has taught at Timber Creek for eight years, and taught five classes, according to state records. His last listed salary is $53,358. He was Timber Creek's head baseball coach in 2013. 

The Black Horse Pike Regional School District, in a letter posted on its website about the accusations, noted that Timber Creek authorities immediately turned into the evidence to the police chief and the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

This case stands in contrast to the Triton Regional High School scandal of three teachers carrying on sexual relationships with students. Students reportedly told school administrators, who did not report it. 

Both schools are in the Black Horse Pike Regional School District.