ASBURY PARK – A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison after he entered a stranger’s home, threatened and robbed the two occupants at knifepoint, and sexually assaulted one, officials said.
Shawn Connolly of Asbury Park will need to serve 85 percent of his term before being eligible for parole as per New Jersey’s No Early Release Act.
Around 5:30 a.m. on September 14, 2021, officers responded to a home on 7th Avenue after receiving a 911 call. Police immediately located Connolly and took him into custody without incident, recovering proceeds from the robbery in his pockets.
According to officials, the two victims, an adult man and woman, were suddenly awakened to Connolly in their bedroom who brandished a knife and threatened to harm them. Connolly had entered through the kitchen window, officials said.
During the course of the robbery, the woman was sexually assaulted by Connolly after he ordered the man to leave the room to retrieve cash. While doing so, the male victim also called 911 and left the line open.
In November 2021, Connolly was indicted before the case proceeded to trial in September 2023. Following a little more than two weeks of proceedings, the jury delivered guilty verdicts on charges of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, first-degree Armed Robbery, second-degree Burglary, second-degree Sexual Assault, third-degree Making Terroristic Threats, and three related weapons offenses.
In accordance with his sentence, Connolly will also be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and remain subject to Parole Supervision for Life.
