Steven P. Rinck was armed with a handgun and a document he claimed was a search warrant when he entered a Seeley Avenue residence in Keansburg. Watch video
KEANSBURG -- A man who pretended to be a State Police officer so that he could enter a home in order to steal cash and drugs was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday, authorities announced on Monday.
Steven P. Rinck, 49, of Keansburg, was convicted on Christmas Eve in 2015 after a trial jury found him guilty of 15 counts, including impersonating a law enforcement officer, armed robbery, kidnapping and other weapons offenses.
On Friday, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge John R. Tassini sentenced Rinck to 20 years in state prison, with at least 85 percent of the sentence to be served before Rinck is eligible for parole, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced in a statement sent to news outlets.
Rinck was sentenced in connection with an armed robbery at residence on Seeley Avenue on Oct. 21, 2012. Authorities said Rinck entered the residence after telling the occupant he was a State Police officer and had a warrant to search the home. Rinck was armed with a handgun and had a document with him that he said was a warrant, authorities added.
Rinck stole cash and drugs from the home, and also robbed a friend who arrived at the home shortly after Rinck. He then ordered both men at gunpoint to enter a vehicle.
Rinck let the friend go before driving away. But, authorities said, he took the resident on a ride in search of drugs and guns. The resident was finally let go by Rinck after he told him he could get guns from a man named, "Tito," which was the name of a cartoon character from a show the resident was watching before Rinck arrived.
An investigation into the incident was launched after the resident reported the incident to the Keansburg Police Department. The investigation found that Rinck had claimed to be a law enforcement officer on other occasions.
Tassini also sentenced Rinck to concurrent sentences of 15 years for armed robbery; seven years for two counts of kidnapping; seven years for unlawful possession of a weapon and seven years for a charge of certain persons not to possess firearms. He also received sentences of one year in state prison for each count of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Monmouth County Senior Litigation Counsel Jacquelynn Seely and Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Behre prosecuted the case.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.