Probation Officer Indicted In Sex Assaults Of Woman He Supervised

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Monmouth County probation officer from Wall Township has been indicted on charges he repeatedly sexually assaulted a woman whose probation he oversaw, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office announced Wednesday.

Henry C. Cirignano, 48, of Wall, was indicted on 17 counts, including sexual assault, witness tampering and making terroristic threats, by an Ocean County grand jury, Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. The case is being handled in Ocean County because Cirignano worked for Monmouth County.

Cirignano was in court Friday, expected to plead guilty in the case after what attorneys said was a protracted negotiation over a plea agreement. But when Cirignano's attorney, Mitchell J. Ansell told Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels that his client still had questions about the agreement and was declining to plead, Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fichter said the case would be taken to a grand jury.

The grand jury returned charges of six counts of second-degree sexual assault, witness tampering, one count of second-degree pattern of official misconduct, four counts of second-degree official misconduct, one count of third-degree terroristic threats, one count of third-degree criminal coercion, one count of first-degree tampering with a witness or informant, and two counts of fourth-degree criminal coercion.

Cirignano is also charged with fourth-degree contempt of court for violating a provision of his pretrial release that said he was not to have contact with the victim. Read more: Wall Probation Officer Accused Of Witness Tampering

Cirignano was arrested in February 2019 and charged with the sexual assault of a 23-year-old woman he supervised on probation.

The prosecutor's office alleges that between August 2016 and January 2019, Cirignano repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with the female probationer while she was under his supervision.

As the investigation continued, additional charges were added, including the charges of official misconduct, after it was determined that he misused his official position to conceal his illicit activities over that same period of time, Gramiccioni's office said.

Prosecutors say evidence gathered in the investigation showed Cirignano had threatened to create false probation violations that would have sent the woman back to jail unless she provided sexual favors to him.

"Cirignano’s sexual assaults upon the victim were frequent and repetitive, occurring in three separate locations where the victim was residing during the period of probation supervision," Gramiccioni's office said.

If convicted of the first-degree charges, Cirignano faces up to 20 years in prison and would be subject to the No Early Release Act, requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.

If convicted of sexual assault, he would also be subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law and parole supervision for life requiring a minimum of 15 years of parole supervision following his release from prison.

Anyone with additional information in the case is urged to contact Detective Jose Cruz and Detective Michael Acquaviva at 1-800-533-7443.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text "MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

The Monmouth County prosecutor's office also has a corruption tip line. Citizens may report concerns by calling the tip line at 855-7-UNJUST (855 786-5878); or send an email to corruption@mcponj.org write “Corruption/Misconduct Tip” in the subject line.

Cirignano is being held in the Ocean County jail in Toms River.

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