TRENTON — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) today announced that criminal charges have been filed against Robert M. Sinnott, Jr., a former chief of the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company in Toms River and retired Island Heights police officer.

Sinnott, formerly of Toms River, New Jersey, and currently residing in Cape Coral, Florida, has been charged by complaint-warrant with four counts of criminal sexual contact (fourth degree) and one count of official misconduct (second degree). This comes after an investigation by OPIA revealed that Sinnott, who served in various roles at the fire company, including chief, had forced multiple other firefighters, who alleged they saw Sinnott as a mentor and role model, into acts of non-consensual sexual contact.

It is alleged that on various dates in 2022 and 2023, Sinnott created situations where he would be alone with the victims at his residence in Toms River, the firehouse, or other locations. He then allegedly handcuffed them under the guise of “training,” or otherwise physically restrained them, before forcing acts of sexual contact upon them. In some instances, the victims reported that Sinnott took photographs of them while they were restrained.

On December 4, 2025, Sinnott was arrested by the Cape Coral Police SWAT Team with assistance from OPIA. Search warrants were then executed on his residence, person, and vehicle. Sinnott was later transported to Lee County Jail pending extradition to New Jersey.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Deputy Attorney General Diana Bibb is prosecuting the case for the OPIA Corruption Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Deputy Chief Laura Croce, Bureau Director Jeffrey J. Manis, and OPIA Director Gibson.

If you believe you have additional information about Sinnott’s conduct, please contact OPIA Detective Brandon Mastropasqua at 609-960-3768 or Detective Malikah Daniels at 856-414-8855. OPIA has a toll-free tip line at 1-844-OPIA-TIP for the public to report corruption. The Attorney General’s Office has an Anti-Corruption Reward Program that offers a reward of up to $25,000 for tips leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption: http://nj.gov/oag/corruption/reward.html

Criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Defense Counsel

William P. Cunningham, Esq., Brick Township, New Jersey

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