WASHINGTON TWP. (Gloucester) - Richard Bennett, the Republican councilman accused of sending insulting letters to school board members with a phony return address, didn't make it to Wednesday's council meeting.

But he did visit town hall earlier in the day.

That was when he turned himself into township police after he was charged with two counts each of harassment and forgery.

This bizarre story has its roots in the continuing battles at the local board of education.

Bennett, who had been the council liaison to the school board, was seen on video mailing the letters in question at a local post office on May 12.

The letters were sent to school board members Connie Baker and Patricia Blome. Among other things, the women were accused of being stupid, dishonest and evil. They were also told, quite ominously, that "God is watching" them.

The women were also accused of pushing Democratic party ideals. School boards are officially non-partisan.

The return address on each letter was that of Julie Kozempel, the board of education president.

The board members knew Kozempel did not send them nasty letters, so they went to police and an investigation began.

That led to the video showing Bennett mailing the letters.

The two counts of harassment have to do with the insults aimed at the board members. The counts of forgery relate to Bennett's alleged use of an address that was not his own.

Bennett was processed and released by police pending review by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. It's possible the prosecutor's office will send the case back to municipal court.

The councilman didn't return our phone calls, but he was quoted elsewhere as saying he knew nothing about the letters

There was no mention of Bennett's arrest at tonight's council meeting.