Kidnapping, Sexual Assault Conviction For Morristown Man

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Morristown man was found guilty of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a Newark resident, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.

A jury trial found Tyrone Ellison, 35, of Morristown, guilty of one count each of first-degree kidnapping; second-degree possession with intent to distribute CDS; third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact; and third-degree possession of a CDS.

The jury found Ellison not guilty of third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but guilty of simple assault, a disorderly persons offense. Ellison was tried before a jury between Nov. 3, 2022, and Nov. 14, 2022, the prosecutor's office said.

The victim's identity has not been made public, Carroll said.

According to police, on Feb. 13, 2021, Ellison approached the victim in Newark and offered him a place to stay for the night, driving him back to his Morristown residence.

The victim fell asleep and awoke to find Ellison touching his intimate parts, police said. Ellison then displayed a handgun, refused the victim access to his cell phone and confined the victim to the residence for the majority of the day.

According to police, Ellison hit the victim after he made an attempt to stop another instance of inappropriate touching. The victim was able to run out of the house to a waiting car after secretly communicating with his mother.

Following the reporting of the incident to law enforcement, a number of packages of methamphetamine that were packaged for distribution as well as text messages on Ellison's phone pertaining to drug distribution were discovered in Ellison's home.

Ellison is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17, 2023. He remains in custody at this time.