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Next time a judge asks to review your briefs, keep in mind that he may mean it quite literally.
In March 2018, Suffolk County District Judge Robert Cicale was arrested after breaking into a former intern’s home, rummaging through her hamper, and stealing a pair of her panties. At the time of his arrest, the judge was found with other “soiled female undergarments” in his pockets, “from other times [he] went into the house.” Cicale was charged with second-degree burglary and pleaded not guilty, despite having already admitted that he’d stolen the panties. He was immediately placed on leave suspended from the bench (with pay, of course).
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Late last week, Cicale pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge of second-degree attempted burglary. According to District Attorney Timothy Sini, considering the fact that Cicale “violated the law, the public’s trust and the victims’ sense of security,” the disrobed judge’s guilty plea “holds him accountable for his actions and serves justice.”
Cicale’s attorney says his client is a new man. Newsday has additional details:
“Judge Cicale accepted responsibility for his actions today,” [Michael J.] Brown said. “He has served the people of Suffolk County honorably for the last 26 years, as a Legal Aid attorney, Town of Islip attorney and a district court judge. He has dealt with his mental illness issues in a proactive manner and is a better person for doing so.”
Cicale will be sentenced November 15, and it’s expected that he will receive five years of probation under which he’ll have to register as a sex offender.
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Suspended Suffolk judge pleads guilty to sneaking into house to steal underwear [Newsday]
Long Island judge pleads guilty to raiding neighbor’s dirty panties [New York Post]
New York Judge Admits Sneaking Into Ex-Intern’s Home to Steal ‘Panties,’ Says He’s Done It Before: Felony Complaint [NBC New York]
Earlier: Judge Arrested After Allegedly Breaking Into Former Intern’s House To Steal Panties
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.