A man from Ecuador who was illegally residing in Dover NJ is set to go to prison after he pleaded guilty to violently assaulting his ex-wife.
The domestic violence incident unfolded at the Dover NJ residence of the victim on January 25, 2015. According to law enforcement, the suspect and his former wife got into an argument that eventually spilled over into violence. With the couple’s 10-year-old child watching, the suspect grabbed a knife and repeatedly stabbed the victim.
After the attack, the victim was able to dial 911 and notify the Dover Police Department. Dover NJ cops and emergency medical crews were dispatched to the scene, where they found the victim suffering from stab wounds and transported her to a local hospital.
Meanwhile, the victim fled the scene and avoided capture until police tracked him down in New York.
The suspect, a 32-year-old Ecuadorian citizen who is in the country illegally, initially faced criminal charges for attempted murder and endangering the welfare of a child. He eventually reached a plea agreement with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and admitted to stabbing his ex-wife. The plea deal called for the suspect to plead guilty to charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child, with prosecutors dropping the charges of attempted murder.
The suspect recently appeared in Morris County Superior Court in Morristown and entered the guilty plea. He will come back to the superior court at a later date in order to be formally sentenced. It is anticipated that Morris County NJ prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 10 years in NJ State Prison.
Additionally, the suspect will probably be deported back to Ecuador once he has completed his prison sentence.
For further information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Man Admits Stabbing Ex-Wife More Than a Dozen Times in Dover, Report Says.”