The retired reverend of a Hackettstown church was released after his first appearance before a judge.
The retired reverend entered the courtroom wearing a suit and handcuffs.
On Thursday morning, Terry Herzberg, 66, the former pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hackettstown, had turned himself in to authorites at the Warren County Court House in Belvidere. He is accused of attempting to photograph and record video up the skirt of a church secretary, sometimes as she sat at a desk, between 2013 and 2016.
Early in the afternoon, he was formally charged with invasion of privacy and attempted invasion of privacy. Both are third-degree charges, which each carry a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
By 2 p.m., he was released from custody pending further hearings.
Retired Rev. Terry Herzberg, right, confers with his attorney, Raymond P. Morasse, during a hearing May 18, 2017, at the Warren County Court House. (Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com)Herzberg, a resident of Tannersville in Pennsylvania's Monroe County, only spoke during the brief hearing to confirm he understood the charges and the legal procedure.
Herzberg's attorney, Raymond P. Morasse of West Orange, declined to comment after the hearing concluded. He did say during open court that his client has begun the application process for pretrial intervention, a rehabilitative program offered to first-time offenders as an alternative to prosecution.
The court granted Warren County Assistant Prosecutor Jessica Cardone's request that Herzberg have no contact with the victim as a condition of his release. Another hearing was scheduled June 22.
Hackettstown police said the pastor's alleged violations were reported June 27.
Last fall, the victim, a resident of Flanders in Morris County, sued Herzberg and the church, according to a November report by The Daily Record of Morristown. She alleged Herzberg made sexually-charged comments to her and "created an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment."
Terry Herzberg, in 2008. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)The church's interim pastor, the Rev. Richard Izzard, told the Record in that report that parishioners were aware of the allegations.
"He served well and people loved him but they're surprised and shocked," Izzard told the Record. "The church has no intent of sweeping this under the carpet, it's not the intent of the church to hide it."
Herzberg and his wife, Susie, came to Hackettstown from Fair Lawn, N.J., where he served as pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church for 10 years. He previously served parishes in Flemington; Albany, Ga.; and Garden City, Kan.
Terry Herzberg received his master's in divinity in 1976 from Christ Seminary in St. Louis and served as vicar in Marietta, Ga. His wife is a consecrated deaconess.
Reporter Pamela Sroka-Holzmann contributed to this report.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.