A New York City man was convicted of punching and using a stun gun on the mother of his 13-month-old child, who lived in North Bergen, by a Hudson County Superior Court jury this week.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Jarrell Sweet, 29, of New York City, N.Y., was convicted by a Hudson County jury on Tuesday on two counts of aggravated assault, burglary, endangering the welfare of a child, child abuse, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
“We thank the jury for dedicating a part of their lives for this important service and we respect their decision,” Suarez said in a statement, also crediting the North Bergen Police Department detectives for their detailed investigation.
The North Bergen Police Department initially arrested and charged Sweet on June 18, 2015.
According to court testimony, Sweet fathered a 13-month-old child with a former co- worker. At the time of the offense, the co-worker resided on 78th Street in North Bergen.
On the night of June 16, 2015, after the co-worker put her 13-month-old son to bed in her apartment, she was confronted by Sweet who was masked and dressed in dark clothing, authorities said.
Sweet lunged at her and attacked her with his fists and a stun gun. A next door neighbor heard screams and attempted to help. North Bergen Police Department responded after receiving several 911 calls from neighbors.
Detectives from the North Bergen Police Department were able to identify and locate Sweet with the help of several neighbors, North Bergen business owners and New York Waterway.
“I give credit to the victim for her courage on the witness stand,†said Assistant Prosecutor Linda Claude-Oben who represented the State.
Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez presided over the trial.
Galis-Menendez will sentence the defendant on February 10, 2017. Sweet faces up to 30 years in prison on the three most serious charges.
He will have to serve 85 percent of any sentence imposed on the two most serious charges without the possibility of parole.
