Middlesex County Man Charged With Child Abuse After Striking Child, 7, With Closed Fist

A Piscataway man has been arrested and charged with 2nd degree child abuse after allegedly striking a young child with a closed fist, according to Monmouth County court records.

Evan M. Jennings, 33, was arrested and charged on Monday, October 13, with child abuse of a child he has legal care of, after striking the 7-year-old in the head in the Lake Como section of Belmar in Monmouth County.

The child, named as “A.J.” was injured, resulting in the child abuse charges, as defined by Chapter 6 of Title 9 of the NJ Statutes on child abuse, according to court records.

Police declined to comment, due to the incident involving a juvenile. Sgt. Ensuar of the Lake Como Police Department was the arresting officer.

Jennings was taken to Monmouth County Correctional Institute in lieu of $50,000 bail, no 10% option, as per Judge Dennis Lavendar. His first court appearance was scheduled for October 21.

An arrest is not a conviction, and every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.