Maplewood man found guilty of aggravated assault in road rage incident

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — An Essex County jury convicted Jahmil Jasper, 39, of Maplewood, of aggravated assault for attacking a woman as she walked in Maplewood, according to an Aug. 14 press release from acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II.

According to Assistant Prosecutor Felicia Garnes, who tried the case, the woman was a passenger in a car on Dec. 8, 2018. The woman, who had recently undergone surgery, apparently angered Jasper because she took a long time getting out the car and held up traffic.

Jasper, who was traveling in a gray Audi, was captured on surveillance video punching the 51-year-old victim twice in the head. He then dragged her into the street where he continued to punch her four times as she lay on the ground and finally kicked her in the head twice. The victim was rushed to Beth Israel Hospital. Her injuries did not prove to be life-threatening.

“An Essex County jury decided that this kind of senseless violence would not be tolerated in our community,” said Garnes, who credited the successful prosecution in part to the quick action of Maplewood detectives who promptly located the video and tracked down Jasper.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 20 before Superior Court Judge Nancy Sivilli, who presided over the case. Jasper faces up to five years in New Jersey State Prison.

  Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Maplewood Police Department