Priest Charged With Criminal Sexual Contact
Published on February 21, 2014
Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Randolph Township Police Chief David Stokoe announce today that Reverend Philip Briganti, 67 years old, of El Paso, Texas, has been charged with one count of Criminal Sexual Contact, a crime of the Fourth Degree, for acts involving an adult male.
Defendant is a retired Paterson Diocesan priest presently living in El Paso, Texas. He had briefly returned to officiate a wedding at St. Paul's Church in Prospect Park, New Jersey on November 9, 2013. After the wedding reception, he was allegedly on a bus with the victim traveling to a hotel. At that point in time defendant allegedly engaged in unwanted sexual contact with the victim. Upon notification of the allegation, the Diocese of Paterson immediately notified the Morris County, Passaic County, and Bergen County Prosecutor's Offices and suspended his faculties. Although the defendant was charged on February 20, 2014, he is presently in Texas and is not in custody.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information relating to these charges is urged to contact the Randolph Township Police Department at 973-989-7010 or the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at 973-285-6200.
Acting Prosecutor Fredric Knapp would like to thank the Diocese of Paterson, the Randolph Township Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office and the members of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit whose efforts contributed to this arrest.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Any inquiries can be directed to First Assistant Morris County Prosecutor/SDAG Thomas Zelante at 973-285-6252 or tzelante@co.morris.nj.us.