A former New Jersey police officer and volunteer fire chief is facing additional criminal charges after authorities accused him of using his positions of trust to sexually assault firefighters who believed they were participating in training exercises.

Robert Sinnott Jr., 53, a retired Island Heights police officer and former chief of the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company in Toms River, was indicted by a state grand jury Thursday on additional charges related to allegations involving 11 firefighters.

According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Sinnott allegedly created situations in which he could be alone with his subordinates at locations including the firehouse and his home.

Authorities say he sometimes presented the encounters as police or emergency-response training before allegedly restraining the men and subjecting them to unwanted sexual contact.

Alleged Attacks Hidden Behind “Training”
Investigators say some of the alleged incidents involved handcuffs or physical restraints.

In one case described in court documents, a firefighter went to Sinnott’s home in August 2022. Prosecutors allege that Sinnott handcuffed the man and placed him in a headlock before engaging in unwanted sexual conduct.

Authorities also allege that Sinnott photographed the encounter.

Another alleged incident occurred the previous month, when Sinnott allegedly used a mechanical restraint device to immobilize a male firefighter before climbing on top of him and engaging in unwanted sexual conduct. Investigators say the encounter was also photographed.

The allegations are part of a larger investigation into Sinnott’s conduct toward firefighters who worked under or alongside him.

Another Firefighter Allegedly Targeted Twice
Court documents describe another firefighter who investigators say was subjected to multiple incidents.

On Feb. 10, 2023, Sinnott allegedly restrained the firefighter inside a fire department vehicle while the two were inspecting a fire hydrant.

According to the allegations, Sinnott pushed the firefighter’s head toward the dashboard before forcing unwanted physical contact.

Two weeks later, investigators say the same firefighter was allegedly attacked again.

Authorities allege that Sinnott grabbed him in a bear hug and pressed his body against the firefighter while making mocking remarks.

The allegations have raised concerns because Sinnott was not simply a coworker. Prosecutors say he held positions of authority over many of the people who have accused him.

Victims Allegedly Saw Him as a Mentor
According to court filings, some of the alleged victims initially viewed Sinnott as a role model, mentor and father figure.

That relationship, prosecutors say, made the alleged conduct particularly difficult for the men to report.

The affidavit reportedly states that some victims feared professional or personal retaliation because of Sinnott’s reputation within the community.

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the allegations involve an abuse of authority and trust.

“The defendant held positions of trust and power within the communities he served and among his coworkers and subordinates in government,” Davenport said in a statement. “But, as alleged in the indictment, he abused that trust again and again.”

Arrested in Florida
Sinnott was arrested at his home in Cape Coral, Florida, in December after investigators obtained warrants and searched his residence and vehicle.

He was subsequently extradited to New Jersey to face the charges.

The latest indictment adds several counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, second-degree official misconduct and a second-degree pattern-of-official-misconduct charge.

Sinnott was already facing four counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of second-degree official misconduct stemming from the earlier investigation.

He remains out of custody.

Defense Says He Will Fight the Charges
Sinnott has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.

His attorney, Michael Ansell, said his client intends to fight the case.

Ansell also questioned the prosecution, saying the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office previously pursued charges against Sinnott in 2023 but that the matter did not move forward.

The attorney described the decision to pursue the current case as “perplexing” and said Sinnott had previously served with distinction and maintained what he characterized as an unblemished record.

The allegations against Sinnott remain allegations unless and until they are proven in court.

The case now places a former police officer and fire chief at the center of a criminal investigation involving people who once worked alongside him and, according to prosecutors, trusted him as a mentor and leader.

Course: NY Post