37-Year-Old Asbury Park Man Will Spend The 4 Decades In Prison Knifepoint Robbery & Sexual Assault
Thursday, April 25, 2024, 5:30 A.M. ET.By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
ASBURY PARK, NJ.- On Tuesday, a 37-year-old Asbury Park, New Jersey man who broke into a home in September 2021, threatened and robbed two people at knifepoint and then sexually assaulted the female resident has been sentenced to 40 years in New Jersey State Prison.
On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Shawn Connolly, 37, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, appeared in Monmouth County Superior Court and was sentenced by the Honorable Henry P. Butehorn, J.S.C. to a term of 40 years in New Jersey State Prison. Judge Butehorn ordered Connolly to serve 85% of his custodial sentence before becoming eligible for parole in accordance with The No Early Release Act.
The sentence stems from an incident that occurred on September 14, 2021, when shortly before 5:30 a.m., members of the Asbury Park Police Department responded to a 911 Emergency Call from a home located on 7th Avenue in Asbury Park.
Upon arrival, Police Officers immediately encountered Connolly and took him into custody without incident, and recovered the proceeds from the robbery in his pockets.
A subsequent investigation by Detectives of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the Asbury Park Police Department quickly determined that shortly before Police Officers arrived, the two victims, a man and a woman who were asleep were awoken by Connolly in their bedroom brandishing a knife and threatening the two, after Connolly had entered through a kitchen window.
During the robbery, the woman was sexually assaulted by Connolly after he ordered the man to leave the room and get cash. As the man left the room he called 911 and left the phone line open.
Following being taken into custody, Connolly was indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury in November 2021, and following a September 2023 trial, Connolly was found guilty on charges of first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault; first degree Armed Robbery; second degree Burglary; second degree Sexual Assault; third degree Terroristic Threats; and three Weapons Offenses.
Following the completion of his custodial term, Judge Butehorn ordered that Connolly be on parole supervision for life and register as a Sex Offender under Megan's Law requirements.
FILED UNDER: APRIL 25, 2024: LAW, LOCAL, MONMOUTH: