Dover man sentenced to 40 years in prison for kidnapping and sexual assault

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The Morris County District Attorney’s Office has announced the sentencing of Jesse Meneses, 38, of Dover, New Jersey, to 40 years in prison after he was found guilty on multiple counts, including kidnapping and sexual abuse. Acting District Attorney Maggie Calderwood, along with representatives from local law enforcement, outlined the conclusion of the case, which stemmed from a series of crimes committed in 2021.

The Honorable Stephen Taylor entered sentence on June 28, 2024, and imposed a parole ineligibility period of approximately 32 years and 3 months under the No Early Release Act. Meneses must also register under Megan’s Law and will be under parole supervision for life.

On February 2, 2024, a jury convicted Meneses on a series of charges: two counts of first-degree kidnapping, three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault, three counts of third-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual assault, and several other related charges, including terroristic threats and witness tampering.

The incidents that led to Meneses’ conviction occurred on September 5, 2021, when he sexually assaulted his ex-girlfriend in his vehicle, transported her to multiple locations, and locked her up before she managed to escape and contact authorities. Following her escape and report, the Dover and Randolph Police Departments, along with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s Sex Crimes and Child Endangerment Unit, launched a detailed investigation.

His case was further complicated when, between April and October 2022, Meneses attempted to influence the witness by talking to family members about getting the victim to change or retract her testimony. This additional misconduct contributed to the severe penalties imposed by the court.