Former Wall Schools Superintendent Convicted of Official Misconduct

James Habel, the onetime head of the Wall Township school district, faces a mandatory five years in a New Jersey prison following his guilty verdict by a Monmouth County jury to a count of official misconduct.

Jurors sided with prosecutors who built their case on 105 vacation days that went unreported to the district. He was also convicted of four counts of falsifying or tampering with records related to his use of a high-end SUV.

He was cleared of two related allegations. The Asbury Park Press reports that the jury could not reach consensus on further charges of theft, money laundering and taking unentitled payment for vacation days.

The ex-Point Pleasant 58-year-old, now living in Dunedin, Florida, was ordered held without bail and has a May 15 sentencing date in Freehold, according to information issued by acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Grammiccioni.

Habel's sentence also requires that he relinquish his state pension and be banned from public employment in New Jersey for life, authorities said. Four additional counts of records tampering or falsifying could add another 18 months each, authorities said.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Corruption Tip Line is 855-7-UNJUST (855-786-5878). E-mails with "Corruption/Misconduct Tip" in the subject line can be sent to corruption@co.monmouth.nj.us.