Former New Jersey fire chief Robert Sinnott, accused of sexually assaulting 11 firefighters during restraint training, faces new indictment

A former New Jersey fire chief allegedly sexually assaulted 11 firefighters who worked under his command, prosecutors said.

Robert M. Sinnott Jr., 53, is the former chief of the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company.

Sinnott is also a retired Island Heights police officer, according to authorities.

A state grand jury returned a new indictment against him on Thursday, prosecutors said.

The indictment handed down additional charges against the former chief, prosecutors said. It added counts of criminal sexual contact and official misconduct, according to the indictment.

The filing also included an allegation that Sinnott engaged in a pattern of official misconduct, according to prosecutors.

The former fire official used his rank to get subordinate firefighters alone, prosecutors said.

He allegedly arranged to isolate the firefighters at the firehouse and at his own home, prosecutors said.

Sinnott allegedly disguised some encounters as police or restraint training, authorities said.

He would then handcuff or otherwise restrain the firefighters before making unwanted sexual contact, authorities said.

In one case, the former chief allegedly restrained a firefighter with a mechanical device, prosecutors said.

He then sexually assaulted the restrained firefighter and took pictures, according to prosecutors.

Several alleged victims reportedly viewed Sinnott as a mentor, a role model and even a father figure, prosecutors said.

That dynamic left some firefighters afraid that speaking up could harm them personally or professionally, prosecutors said.

Sinnott was arrested at his Florida home in December and extradited back to New Jersey, authorities said.

Sinnott has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney said he plans to fight the allegations.