COURT HOUSE – A 34-year-old Del Haven resident is in Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of $900,000 bail, facing multiple charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, involving four children under age 18.
In a Sept. 18 release by Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor and Middle Township Chief of Police Christopher Leusner, the arrest of Phillip F. Cimini of Del Haven was announced.
Cimini was charged Sept. 11 with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Those charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit by Detective First Class Gannon and Detective Rybicki concerning two children under age 18, who were allegedly sexually assaulted.
As a result of the investigation additional information was discovered. Cimini was charged Sept. 14 with aggravated criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child, for an additional child under 18 years of age.
Cimini was located in Woodbine Sept. 16 by members of the County Prosecutor’s Office and was arrested. He was remanded to the correctional center in lieu of bail.
On Sept. 18, an additional victim, also under age 18, was identified, and Cimini was additionally charged with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Additionally charged:
Ashley Funk, 31, and Edwin Santana, 24, both of Woodbine were charged on Sept. 16 with hindering apprehension. Funk was lodged in the correctional center in lieu of $25,000 bail and Santana was lodged in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.
Deborah Cimini, 53, of Del Haven and Samantha Cimini-Franco, 24, of Wildwood Crest were each charged Sept. 17 with hindering apprehension. Deborah Cimini was released on $1,500 cash bail and Cimini-Franco was lodged in the correctional center in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.
Cimini-Franco, Funk and Santana were discharged Sept. 17 after posting bail, according to correctional center records.
Investigation Ongoing
The investigation is ongoing, Taylor stated. Citizens who may have information concerning this investigation are urged to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 465-1135 of Middle Township Police Department at 465-8700, or text TIP MTPDTIPS followed by your message to 888777 or text a tip using the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department Tip 411 app.
Taylor and Leusner acknowledged the work of all agencies which assisted in the investigation including the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department, New Jersey State Parole Office, Lower Township Police Department, Wildwood Crest Police Department, New Jersey State Police and the Department of Child Protection and Permanency.
The individuals are only charged with the offenses and are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Del Haven – To the Middle Twp. Police administrator who said he was on the outside looking in at the police dept.. You are correct. You have no idea what you are doing and how you make your officers feel. You…
