Bayshore Man Used Neighbor's Internet For Child Porn: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ – A Union Beach man who authorities say used his neighbor's internet access to download and distribute child pornography was released to await trial at home, despite objections from the Monmouth County prosecutor's office.

Henry Cicerale, 59, of Park Avenue in Union Beach turned himself in to authorities March 29 following a nearly 11-month-long investigation, Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Wednesday.

The investigation initially led to the neighbor's home, he said, but ultimately authorities determined Cicerale had previously set up the wireless internet network at the neighbor’s home and used his knowledge of that network to access, download, and distribute child pornography, Gramiccioni said.

A forensic review of Cicerale’s computers and other digital media devices uncovered hundreds of items of child pornography, he said. The search of Cicerale's home also uncovered a loaded handgun, Gramiccioni said.

Cicerale has been charged with 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, he said.

Gramiccioni said that at Cicerale's pretrial detention hearing on Wednesday, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon ordered Cicerale released to await trial. Escandon set conditions that include remaining under home detention with an electronic ankle-monitoring device, with Cicerale only permitted to leave his home for approved appointments and court appearances. He also is prohibited from using the internet and having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18, Gramiccioni said.

The release came despite objections by the prosecutor's office, he said.

The child pornography distribution charge carries a possible sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison, and the weapons charge carries 5 to 10 years as well with 42 months of parole ineligibility.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Margaret Koping.

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