Suffolk County District Court Judge Robert Cicale. Photo: Suffolk County Police Department via AP Suffolk County District Court Judge Robert Cicale. Photo: Suffolk County Police Department via AP

The New York Court of Appeals has suspended a Suffolk County District Court judge who was arrested last week and charged with burglary after he was caught with women's underwear that he allegedly stole from a private residence.

The state's high court suspended Suffolk County District Judge Robert Cicale, 49, with pay, but gave the judge an April 12 deadline to submit papers to state his position as to whether or not his suspension should be continued and, if so, if he should be paid during that time.

Cicale was arrested on March 29 after allegedly breaking into a neighbor's house in East Islip. A 23-year-old woman was home alone at the time and identified Cicale as the intruder, according to media reports.

Cicale was allegedly in possession of soiled women's underwear when police arrived at the scene and told police that he had stolen the garments during previous break-ins.

Cicale has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree burglary, a class C felony.

The day after Cicale's arrest, Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks issued an order to prohibit Cicale from taking on new cases and to reassign pending matters before Cicale to other judges.

Suffolk County solo attorney William Wexler is representing Cicale in the criminal matter.
Cicale, a graduate of St. John's University School of Law, was elected to the bench in 2016. He previously served as town attorney for the Town of Islip.