Cirilo Tello
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Cirilo Tello, age 54, of Paterson, New
Jersey, was sentenced to an aggregate term of 17 years in New Jersey State Prison.
On January 4, 2023, the Paterson Police Department contacted the Passaic County Prosecutor’s
Office Special Victims Unit to report that a 10-year-old child had been sexually assaulted in Passaic,
New Jersey. Thereafter, members of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit
interviewed the victim and several witnesses. The victim reported being sexually abused by Mr.
Tello on multiple occasions between October 2020 and October 2022 at a residence in Paterson.
Based on the investigation, Mr. Tello was arrested for and charged with various offenses against the
victim and the victim’s brother who was present during the assaults.
The Honorable Barbara J. Buono Stanton, J.S.C. presided over a jury trial from November through
December 2024. On December 2, 2024, a Passaic County petit jury found Mr. Tello guilty of one
count of second-degree sexual assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b); and two counts of
second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1).
On June 27, 2025, Judge Buono Stanton sentenced Mr. Tello to an aggregate term of 17 years in
New Jersey State prison. Specifically, on N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b), the defendant was sentenced to 9
years in New Jersey State Prison, with defendant to serve 85% of his sentence before parole
eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act. This term will run consecutive to the defendant’s
sentence on N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1), for which the defendant was sentenced to eight years in New
Jersey State Prison. Upon release from prison, Mr. Tello will be subject to Parole Supervision for
Life and Megan’s Law registration.
Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Lisa Marie Anello represented the State during the jury trial
before Judge Buono Stanton, and Mr. Tello was represented by William Specht, Esq.
