Former NJ Fire Chief Indicted for Sexually Assaulting 11 Firefighters Under Training Pretense
Robert Sinnott Jr., 53, faces new charges after allegedly restraining and assaulting 11 firefighters at his home and firehouse. He pleaded not guilty.
Ex-cop and volunteer fire chief accused of assaulting 11 subordinates in Ocean County
A former New Jersey police officer and volunteer fire chief has been indicted on a series of new charges after allegedly sexually assaulting 11 firefighters over multiple years, NY Post Metro reports. Robert Sinnott Jr., 53, is accused of exploiting his positions of authority to isolate and restrain victims before forcing sexual contact upon them.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the grand jury indictment Thursday, which adds counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, second-degree official misconduct, and second-degree pattern of official misconduct to the charges Sinnott already faces.
Sinnott is a retired officer from the Island Heights Police Department and former chief of the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company in Toms River. According to Davenport's office, he "created situations where he would be alone" with victims at multiple locations, including the firehouse and his personal residence.
"He would allegedly handcuff victims under the false pretense of needing their assistance with a police-related training, or he would otherwise physically restrain them, before forcing sexual contact upon them against their will," the attorney general's office stated.
Incidents described in court filings
Court documents detail several specific incidents. In August 2022, a firefighter subordinate arrived at Sinnott's home, where the former chief allegedly handcuffed him and placed him in a headlock. Sinnott then pressed his groin against the victim's hands while grunting and photographed the assault with a digital camera, according to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by NJ.com.
A month earlier, in July 2022, Sinnott allegedly used a mechanical device to restrain another male firefighter — binding him completely — before climbing on top of him, engaging in sexual contact, and photographing the incident, the complaint states.
A third firefighter described being restrained inside Sinnott's vehicle on Feb. 10, 2023, while the two were inspecting a fire hydrant. Sinnott allegedly pushed the victim's head onto the dashboard and forced his hand onto Sinnott's groin before laughing and releasing him.
That same firefighter was allegedly targeted again roughly two weeks later, when Sinnott grabbed him from behind and rubbed against him while mocking him, according to court papers.
Victims feared retaliation
The affidavit notes that Sinnott's victims initially regarded him as a "role model, mentor, and father figure." According to NJ.com's reporting on the filings, they delayed reporting the incidents because of his standing in the community: "Due to Sinnott's positive reputation in the community, they feared personal and professional harassment and retaliation if they reported these incidents."
Davenport addressed that dynamic directly. "The defendant held positions of trust and power within the communities he served and among his coworkers and subordinates in government. But, as alleged in the indictment, he abused that trust again and again," she said in a statement.
Arrest, extradition, and current status
Police arrested Sinnott at his home in Cape Coral, Florida, in December and executed search warrants on both his residence and vehicle. He was subsequently extradited to New Jersey. In addition to the new indictment counts, Sinnott faces four prior counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of second-degree official misconduct. He remains out of jail.
Sinnott has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Michael Ansell, told NJ.com that his client "intends to fight this case with every ounce of his strength." Ansell also noted that the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office had previously pursued charges against Sinnott in 2023 "but it didn't go anywhere," calling the state's renewed pursuit of charges "very perplexing." Before the allegations surfaced, Ansell said, Sinnott "served with distinction and had an unblemished record."
Source: NY Post Metro