Man Imprisoned For Kidnapping, Rape Of Ex After Morris County Trial

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A man who was convicted of raping his ex-girlfriend in his vehicle and then transporting her through several Morris County communities will spend several decades in prison, a judge determined.

A jury decided on Feb. 2 to convict Jesse Meneses, a former Dover resident, on all charges related to the 2021 sexual assault and kidnapping. Last week, the 38-year-old was given an aggregate sentence of 40 years in New Jersey State Prison, prosecutors said.

Officials said Meneses sexually assaulted the woman in his vehicle on Sept. 5, 2021 in Randolph. He then kept her confined and drove her from Randolph through Victory Gardens, and ultimately to Dover, said prosecutors.

There, the victim was able to escape and report the incident to the police. Members of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Endangerment Unit, Dover Police, and Randolph Police began investigating.

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."

He will have to serve 32 years and 3 months of the term before parole eligibility, and will be required to register as a sex offender and be under parole supervision for life.

Jurors found Meneses guilty of the following charges: Three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, three counts of second-degree sexual assault, three counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, one count of third-degree terroristic threats, one count of third-degree witness tampering, and one count of third-degree conspiracy to commit witness tampering.