Crime & Safety

Norristown Lawyer Admits To Raping Female Client While She Was Unconscious

A Norristown defense lawyer has admitted to raping a female client of his while she was unconscious.

NORRISTOWN, PA -- Norristown attorney Vincent Cirillo Jr. admitted on Tuesday to raping a 22-year-old female client of his who was unconscious at the time, according to court documents.

Cirillo, 57, of Narberth, now faces up to 20 years in prison. He had been charged with felony identity theft; felony conspiracy to commit identity theft; felony forgery; and false impersonation of a privately employed person, court records show, but all those charges were dropped when Cirillo pleaded guilty to felony sexual assault.

That incident occurred in August of 2015.

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In addition to the rape charges, Cirillo also allegedly posed as the victim's attorney, Jason Donoghue, in an attempt to gain access to personal information, according to a police affidavit filed against Cirillo.

The affidavit said one employee of the DRO office said she was "100 percent certain" that Cirillo identified himself as Jason Donoghue. Detectives later reviewed security footage of the office and determined Cirillo was in the office with his wife, who the affidavit said was posing as a paralegal.

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"The defendant abused his knowledge of the legal system to gain access to otherwise confidential information," the affidavit said. The affidavit went on to accuse Cirillo of attempting to gain information to tarnish his accusers character in an upcoming trial.

Cirillo is also scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Gregory L. Scott on Nov. 18 for the impersonation charges, court documents show.

Photo courtesy Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

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