Jury Finds Man Guilty In Kidnapping, Rape Of Ex In Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County jury found a man guilty of raping his ex-girlfriend in his vehicle and transporting her through several communities in 2021, officials said.

After a six-day trial, former Dover resident Jessie Meneses, 37, was convicted of three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, and multiple other charges of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, and witness tampering.

The jury made its decision to convict him on all charges on Feb. 2, and sentencing is scheduled before Judge Stephen J. Taylor on March 8.

Officials said Meneses sexually assaulted the woman in his vehicle on Sept. 5, 2021 in Randolph. He then confined her and transported her from Randolph through Victory Gardens, and ultimately to Dover, said prosecutors. The victim was able to escape and report the incident to the police.

Between April and October of 2022, officials said Meneses also "communicated with family members about contacting the victim to change her version of events or withdraw the criminal action."

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and other law enforcement officials announced the jury verdict on Feb. 6.