Barnegat Education Association Treasurer Arrested in Theft Investigation

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the arrest of Wayne Wedderman, 42, of Forked River, NJ on charges of 2nd Degree Computer Theft and 3rd Degree Theft approved by the Honorable Judge Wendel Daniels JSC.

The charges stem from an investigation begun by Ocean County Prosecutor Detective Brad Frank and Agent Stephen Shadiack on October 21, 2014, when Board members of the Barnegat Education Association reported that approximately $23,000 was missing from two association accounts, which Wayne Wedderman Jr. controlled as association treasurer for approximately two years.

Further investigation alleges that Wedderman was authoring checks out of the association account for personal expenditures to himself and other family members.  In addition to the checks, it is alleged Wedderman opened a debit card against association by-laws and utilized the card for ATM cash withdrawals and Point of Sale purchases.

At approximately 6 am this morning, Ocean County Prosecutor Economic Crime Unit Detectives Brad Frank and Mark Malinowski, along with Unit Head Sgt. Cynthia Boyd, responded to Wedderman’s Admiral Road residence to execute the arrest warrant.  Wedderman was placed into custody without incident, transported back to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit for processing and lodged in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail with no option of 10%.

The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.



Wayne A. Wedderman

Photo courtesy the Ocean County Jail

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