A 53-year-old former New Jersey fire chief is facing an expanding criminal case after 11 subordinate firefighters accused him of sexual assault, prosecutors said.
Robert M. Sinnott Jr., 53, formerly served as chief of the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company and is a retired Island Heights police officer.
A state grand jury returned a new indictment against him on Thursday, prosecutors said.
The new indictment handed down additional criminal charges against the former chief, court records show.
The latest indictment adds charges including criminal sexual contact and official misconduct, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors also accuse Sinnott of engaging in a pattern of official misconduct.
The expanding case follows accusations from 11 firefighters who worked under his authority, authorities said.
The subordinates have accused the retired officer of sexual misconduct or assault, according to prosecutors.
Sinnott allegedly used his position of authority to isolate firefighters who worked under him, prosecutors said.
Those encounters allegedly took place both at the firehouse and inside his own home, according to authorities.
Some of the allegations involve what prosecutors described as supposed police or restraint training exercises, authorities said.
Authorities allege Sinnott would present an encounter as legitimate training before handcuffing or otherwise restraining firefighters. Once the men were restrained, Sinnott allegedly subjected some of them to unwanted sexual contact, prosecutors said.
In one alleged incident, authorities say Sinnott used a mechanical restraint device on a firefighter. He then allegedly sexually assaulted the firefighter and took photographs, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the alleged power imbalance went beyond Sinnott simply serving as their fire chief.
Several of the firefighters reportedly regarded the chief as a mentor and a role model, authorities said.
Some of the men even viewed him as a father figure, according to prosecutors.
Authorities allege that relationship of trust contributed to some of the men being afraid to speak out. The firefighters allegedly feared what accusing their chief could mean for them personally or professionally, prosecutors said.
The investigation ultimately expanded to include allegations involving 11 firefighters, according to authorities.
In December, police arrested Sinnott at his Florida residence, authorities said.
The former chief was subsequently extradited back to New Jersey to face prosecution, court records show.
Sinnott has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court documents.
His attorney maintains that he intends to fight the accusations.
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