Man Charged With Child Abuse After Striking Child, 7, With Closed Fist in Belmar

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 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.

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.