Philip J. Jennaco, former Hauppauge fire chief, pleads not guilty in rape of teen girl in 2023
Philip J. Jennaco, of Commack, resigned as a fire chief in the Hauppauge Fire Department because of the rape allegation, his attorney said. Credit: Newsday/Alessandra Malito
An ex-Hauppauge fire chief pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of raping a 16-year-old girl in his Commack home in 2023, an allegation his attorney said forced him to resign as a fire chief.
Philip J. Jennaco, 47, was arraigned in Suffolk County Criminal Court on Wednesday on an indictment containing an upgraded charge of first-degree rape as well as multiple charges of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct, and endangering the welfare of a child.
The indictment follows his arrest last month. He was charged on Aug. 6 in a criminal complaint with third-degree rape, with the victim younger than 17 and the alleged perpetrator 21 or older, in Suffolk County District Court.
The alleged attack took place on April 3, 2023, at 11 p.m., according to the criminal complaint.
Prosecutor Zachary Kelly said Jennaco asked the teen to come to his home to help him move boxes, but soon after she entered the studio apartment, he pushed her onto his bed and forced himself on her.
After the alleged attack, the teen fled his home and told her grandmother, who called police, Kelly said.
Jennaco, who was a fire chief in the Hauppauge Fire Department, according to his lawyer, repeatedly shook his head from side to side as the prosecutor spoke, indicating he disagreed with the prosecutor's assertions about what occurred.
Kelly said authorities have DNA evidence from the teen. It has not yet been tested. Acting state Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis set a $200,000 cash bail or a $600,000 bond.
Jennaco's defense attorney George Duncan requested a $100,000 cash bail in recognition of the upgraded charges, but said his client was not a flight risk, adding that Jennaco didn't have a passport. He said his client resigned as a fire chief because of the allegations.
"My client maintains his innocence," said Duncan. "If it’s truly a rape one [charge] and the girl hasn’t changed her story since Day 1, why did they wait three years to charge my client? It doesn’t make sense. And the answer is, it didn’t happen. It’s not true."
The Hauppauge Fire Department did not respond to a message seeking comment on Wednesday.
Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.
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