Central Islip, NY - April 2, 2018 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the arraignment of a Suffolk County District Court judge who burglarized his East Islip neighbor’s home.
At approximately 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2018, Robert Cicale, 49, unlawfully entered his neighbor’s home on Donna Place, located across the street from his Donna Place residence. Cicalethen walked upstairs where he encountered a female resident in one of the bedrooms and immediately fled.
“This is an individual who swore to uphold the law and violated it in a very serious way,” District Attorney Sini said. “The message here is that no one is above the law. We have an extremely strong prosecution and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”
The defendant was later apprehended a few blocks away, where detectives recovered several pairs of women’s panties from Cicale’s coat and raincoat. These items were later identified by the victim as her belongings, which she confirmed Cicale had no permission to take.
“The response by the Suffolk County Police Department was phenomenal--both in terms to the response time as well the investigative steps taken thus far,” District Attorney Sini said.
After his arrest, Cicale gave a written statement to Third Squad detectives, where he admitted to entering the home on multiple past occasions and removing the underwear from an upstairs hamper. He noted that he had intended to steal panties again on the day of his arrest, but abandoned this decision when he saw someone in the home.
In addition to his written confession and oral admissions, the defendant also wrote a letter of apology for violating the sanctity of the victim’s home. He lived across the street from the house he burglarized for several years.
Cicale was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on charges of Burglary 2nd Degree. A temporary order of protection was issued to protect the victim, her family, and their home. Bail was set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond.