Dover Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Kidnapping, Sexual Assault

Jesse Meneses Found Guilty on Multiple Charges, Faces Decades Behind Bars

On June 28, 2024, Jesse Meneses, 38, of Dover, New Jersey, was sentenced to 40 years in New Jersey State Prison following his conviction for kidnapping and sexual assault. The sentencing, delivered by the Honorable Stephen Taylor, includes approximately 32 years and 3 months of parole ineligibility under the No Early Release Act. Meneses is also required to register with Megan’s Law and will be under Parole Supervision for Life.

Meneses was found guilty by a jury on February 2, 2024, of multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree Kidnapping, three counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, three counts of second-degree Sexual Assault, three counts of third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, three counts of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact, one count of third-degree Terroristic Threats, one count of third-degree Witness Tampering, and one count of third-degree Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering. He had been detained at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending sentencing.

The charges stem from an incident on September 5, 2021, in Randolph, where Meneses sexually assaulted his ex-girlfriend in his vehicle. He then transported and confined her from Randolph through Victory Gardens, eventually bringing her to Dover, where she managed to escape and report the incident to the police. The investigation, conducted by the Dover and Randolph Police Departments along with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes & Child Endangerment Unit, led to Meneses' arrest. Between April 2022 and October 2022, Meneses attempted to influence the victim’s testimony by communicating with family members to contact her to alter her account or withdraw the charges.

Acting Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood credited Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Reema Sethi Kareer, Assistant Prosecutor Samantha Polizzi, Detective Raquelin Perea, Detective Supervisor Lydia Negron, and SART/SANE Coordinator Alexis Rachel for their roles in the successful prosecution of Meneses.

Calderwood also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Dover Police Department, the Randolph Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes & Child Endangerment Unit in achieving this outcome.