MONMOUTH COUNTY – An active member of the Manalapan Township community was arrested earlier today and charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old male over the Labor Day weekend, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Joseph L. Tringali, 47, of Stratford Drive in Manalapan, is charged with first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault. Tringali was arrested Thursday afternoon following an intensive investigation by the Manalapan Township Police Department. Tringali is a current member of the Manalapan Township Board of Education, and also serves as the vice-president and chaplain for the Manalapan Township-Englishtown Volunteer First Aid Squad.
Tringali is currently being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, and is scheduled for a first appearance on Friday.
If convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault, Tringali faces a sentence of up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison, but could also be placed on Parole Supervision for Life, and subject to provisions of Megan’s Law.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fichter, Director of the Office’s Special Victims Unit.
