FREEHOLD – A Union Beach man was arrested and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography and gun offenses, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Henry Cicerale, 59, of Park Avenue in Union Beach, faces charges including second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for Distribution of Child Pornography, third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for Possession of Child Pornography and second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
On March 29, 2018, Cicerale turned himself in to authorities following a nearly 11-month-long investigation into online child pornography activities that were conducted using a neighbor’s Internet account, but ultimately led investigators to the defendant. A subsequent investigation revealed that Cicerale had previously set-up the wireless Internet network at the neighbor’s home and was using that network to access, download, and distribute child pornography. A forensic review of Cicerale’s computers and other digital media devices uncovered hundreds of items of child pornography.
The investigation also uncovered a loaded handgun within Cicerale’s home.
On April 4, 2018, at the defendant’s pretial detention hearing, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon ordered Cicerale released with conditions over the objections of the Prosecutor’s Office. Cicerale was ordered to remain under home detention with an electronic ankle-monitoring device, only permitted to leave his home for approved appointments and court appearances. Judge Escandon also prohibited Cicerale from using the Internet and having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18.
If convicted of the child pornography distribution charge, Cicerale faces a prison term of five to ten years in a New Jersey state prison. If convicted of the child pornography possession charge, Cicerale faces a prison term of three to five years.
If convicted of the Unlawful Possession of a Weapon offense, Cicerale faces a sentence of five to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison with 42 months of parole ineligibility.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Margaret Koping.
Cicerale is represented by Michael Pappa, Esq., of Hazlet.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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