40 Years For Monmouth County Man Who Broke Into Home, Raped Woman

ASBURY PARK, NJ — An Asbury Park man who entered a couple's home in 2021, robbed the man and woman at knifepoint and sexually assaulted the woman was sentenced to 40 years in state prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced Wednesday.

The man is Shawn Connolly, 37. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before the possibility of parole.

Shortly before 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, Asbury Park Police were called by 911 to a home on 7th Avenue.

Police say the adult man and woman suddenly awoke to Connolly in their bedroom, wielding a knife and threatening to harm them. He entered the home through a kitchen window. The woman was sexually assaulted by Connolly after he ordered the man to leave the room to retrieve cash. As he did so, the man also called 911 and left the line open.

Asbury Park PD located Connolly immediately when they got there that morning, and took him into custody without incident, recovering proceeds from the robbery in his pockets.

Last September, a jury found Connolly guilty of first-degree aggravated sex assault, armed robbery, burglary and gun charges.

He will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and remain subject to Parole Supervision for Life.