A Gloucester County grand jury has indicted a former councilman on four counts of fourth-degree forgery.
The indictment against Richard Bennett alleges two counts of forgery and two counts of forgery with the “purpose to defraud or injure anyone, or with knowledge that he is facilitating a fraud or injury.”
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in state prison, according to a press release through the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office on Dec. 19.
According to documents filed in this case, Bennett, who was a sitting Washington Township council member, mailed harassing letters to two members of his local board of education in the name of another board
member.
Bennett voluntarily surrendered to township police on May 28, according to the department. Following consultation with the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, the charges were signed by township Det. Anthony Aquilino.
The Republican councilman has lived in the township for 30 years. He has since stepped down from the dais. He had served on council since 2021 and won reelection in November. His time on council included the role of liaison to the school board.
A request for comment through Bennett’s attorney Nicholas J. Yurick of the Law Offices of Andrew N. Yurick was not returned before press time.
