Probation Officer From Wall Accused Of Sexual Assault

FREEHOLD, NJ – A New Jersey State probation officer from Wall Township has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman whose probation he supervised, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office announced.

Henry C. Cirignano, 48, of Wall Township, was arrested Monday, Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

He is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault; one count involves the coercion of his victim and the other count involves his supervisory capacity over his victim as her probation officer, Gramiccioni said.

Cirignano is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township, pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday, Feb. 8.

Anyone with additional information about this crime is urged to contact Detectives Jose Cruz or 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.

If convicted, Cirignano faces up to 10 years in prison on each count, subject to the provisions of the "No Early Release Act" plus Megan's Law provisions requiring a minimum of 15 years of parole supervision following his release from prison.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fichter.

Note: The headline of this article has been updated ; the victim is on probation, which happens in lieu of prison time; parole is an early release from prison. Patch regrets the error.

Photo by Renee Schiavone, Patch staff