Union Beach man charged with child pornography and gun possession

Henry Cicerale, 59, of Park Avenue in Union Beach, set-up a wireless Internet network at a neighbor’s home and was using that network to access, download, and distribute child pornography.  His computers and other digital media devices had hundreds of items of child pornography, an 11 month investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office concluded. Investigators also found an unloaded gun in his home.

Cicerale is charged with second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for Distribution of Child Pornography, third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for Possession of Child Pornography and second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Judge Paul X. Escandon order Cicerale released with conditions, over the Prosecution’s objections, today during the his pre-trial detention hearing. The defendant was ordered to remain under home detention with an electronic ankle-monitoring device, only permitted to leave his home for approved appointments and court appearances. Judge Escandon also prohibited Cicerale from using the Internet and having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18.

If convicted of the child pornography distribution charge, Cicerale faces a prison term of five to ten years in a New Jersey state prison. If convicted of the child pornography possession charge, Cicerale faces a prison term of three to five years.