Judge OKs house arrest for former Berlin Boro teacher
BERLIN BOROUGH — A former teacher arrested last week over a dispute with his principal and the local school district is out of jail.
But Scott D. Nalick remains under house arrest while his case moves through state court.
Nalick, who taught at Berlin Community School, was released after a pretrial detention hearing on April 23 in Camden County Superior Court.
Police filed four charges against Nalick on April 16. The filing of criminal charges does not constitute proof of guilt.
Nalick, a 38-year-old Marlton resident, declined on Wednesday to discuss his case.
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A police complaint and affidavit alleges that Nalick entered the school without permission on April 15; that a social media post he sent constituted a threat of violence to a person; and that “demeaning” text messages he sent about his principal were intended as harassment.
Nalick's also accused of illegally accessing the district computer student grading system and altered data.
Nalick sent in a resignation notice that same day, and the district said it was accepted.
The release order from Judge Edward J. McBride Jr. includes conditions that Nalick avoids all contact with the alleged victim and the school. He also must report to the court’s pretrial services office by phone every other week and in person every other week.
The court further told Nalick that he may leave his home only to go to court, pretrial services, or probation appointments; to meet his attorney, with 48-hour notice to pretrial services; or to attend personal shopping or grooming on Saturdays from noon until 3 p.m.
Nalick also is subject to random detention checks by video calls with pretrial services officer. Alternatively, he may provide photographic proof to an officer of his location.
Borough police Chief Michael Scheer on Thursday said the department is maintaining an increased presence at the school.
The next scheduled court date for Nalick is a pre-indictment conference on June 26.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Berlin teacher out of jail but court orders home detention
