A Monmouth County man who has a prior criminal record has pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and unauthorized possession of a handgun charges, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. 

Henry Cicerale, 60, of Park Avenue, Union Beach, pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child (or distribution of child pornography) and second-degree certain persons not to have weapons. 

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Cicerale faces up to 10 years in New Jersey state prison with a five-year period of parole ineligibility. He will be subject to Megan’s Law and parole supervision for life. 

The case background …

The plea follows a nearly 11-month-long investigation into online child pornography activities that were conducted using a neighbor’s internet account, but ultimately led investigators to Cicerale.

A subsequent investigation revealed that Cicerale had previously set-up a wireless internet network at the neighbor’s home and was using that network to access, download, and distribute child pornography. A forensic review of Cicerale’s computers and other digital media devices uncovered hundreds of items of child pornography. A search of defendant’s home also revealed a handgun which Cicerale was prohibited from lawfully possessing due to his prior criminal record.

Cicerale is scheduled to return for sentencing before Judge Bauman on June 21, 2019.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Dugan.

Cicerale is represented by Michael Pappa, Esq., of Hazlet.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office