Judge denies ex-sheriff officer's request to spend weekends in jail

Sheriff's officer had sex with a woman in drug court must report to the Somerset County Jail by noon Monday.

SOMERVILLE -- A former Sussex County sheriff's officer who admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with a woman in drug court must report to the Somerset County Jail by noon Monday after the judge denied a motion for him to serve his 270-day sentence on the weekends.

William R. Lunger, Jr., 36, of Hamburg was sentenced to the 270 days in county jail and three years probation by Somerset County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed last Monday.

He filed a motion to serve his sentence on the weekends Friday. Reed rejected that motion Monday morning during a hearing in Somerset County Superior Court.

In addition to having sex with the woman, Lunger also tipped off the woman, identified by the initials C.T. in court, to surprise weekend drug screenings and stole testing kits for her to use.

Under a plea deal, Lunger, who was facing a possible second-degree official misconduct charge, which carries a mandatory five-year prison term without probation, plead guilty in January to third-degree conspiracy to commit official misconduct.

"You have already received the benefit of executive discretion," Reed told Lunger, pointing out that Lunger was facing five years before his sentence was reduced to 270 days. "That's as good as it's going to get."

Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Greg Muelller said he was pleased that Reed stood by his original sentence.

Part of the reason for Reed's sentencing was that both Mueller and defense attorney Jeff Ziegelheim told the judge last week that Lunger, who served in the U.S. Army, has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as the result of a 13-month stint in Iraq, both stating it contributed to his actions. Reed agreed.

Mueller said Monday that he was pleased that the judge stood by his original sentence.

Lunger, who served eight years in the army, is currently on full disability. He received an honorable discharge.

In addition to probation, Lunger, who received an Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions in Iraq, must continue to undergo psychiatric treatment for his, forfeit any future public service in the state and refrain from drinking alcohol.

The case was transferred to Somerset County to avoid a conflict of interest.

Lunger was initially charged with four counts of official misconduct, one count of engaging in a pattern of misconduct, one count of conspiring to defraud a drug test and one count of theft.