50-Year-Old Deerfield Man Will Spend The Next Two & Half Decades In State Prison For Attacking His Ex-Girlfriend
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 4:15 P.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
DEERFIELD, NJ.- Following being convicted on September 19, 2023, by a Cumberland County Jury on charges stemming from an August 13, 2020, investigation that involved the kidnapping and sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend. On Monday, May 13, 2024, Julio Sigurani, 50, of Deerfield, New Jersey appeared in Cumberland County Superior Court and was sentenced by the Honorable William Ziegler, J.S.C., to 25 years in New Jersey State Prison.
According to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae, the investigation unfolded during the early morning hours of August 13, 2020, in Deerfield Township, New Jersey. Sigurani entered his ex-girlfriend’s home, woke her up, then threatened her with a hatchet, and forced her to engage in oral and sexual intercourse. Sigurani then stayed inside the residence for over two hours and continued to threaten his ex-girlfriend, breaking her cell phone and confining her within the home.
Investigators of the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office and Detective Christian Guadalupe of the New Jersey State Police were able to locate and arrest Sigurani. Following being taken into custody Sigurani was formally charged.
Following a trial, on September 19, 2023, a jury sitting in Cumberland County, New Jersey returned guilty verdicts against Sigurani on the charges of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault; first-degree Kidnapping; second-degree Sexual Assault; second-degree Burglary; third-degree Terroristic Threats; third-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; fourth-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; and fourth-degree Criminal Mischief.
After being convicted, Sigurani’s defense counsel filed a motion for a new trial. The motion was argued on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Cumberland County Superior Court at which time Judge Ziegler denied Sigurani’s request for a new trial and sentencing followed. Judge Ziegler ordered the sentence to be subject to the No Early Release Act which will require Sigurani to serve 85 percent of his custodial term before becoming eligible for parole. Upon release, Sigurani will be required to register as a sex offender and will be on parole supervision for life.
