By: Richard L. Smith
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II announced that John P. Davis, 23, of East Orange, has been found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault.
The charges stem from an incident on April 10, 2023, in an apartment on South Harrison Street in East Orange.
Davis, who had permission to stay in the apartment, assaulted the apartment holder over a dispute regarding a TV remote control.
The violent attack resulted in the victim suffering a broken eye socket and a brain bleed. Officers from the East Orange Police Department responded quickly to the scene and took Davis into custody.
The victim was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, where she was admitted for several days.
The conviction followed a two-day trial before the Honorable Patrick J. Arre, J.S.C.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Davis guilty of the assault charges.
Assistant Prosecutor Christopher R. Byrnes, who tried the case for the state, expressed gratitude to the jury for delivering a guilty verdict and providing justice for the victim.
“The victim suffered serious injuries and showed tremendous courage by following through and testifying in the trial,” Byrnes said.
He also praised the officers of the East Orange Police Department for their swift response and for taking Davis into custody, and he thanked the medical staff at University Hospital for the treatment provided to the victim and for their testimony during the trial.
Davis is currently held in the Essex County Correctional Facility and faces up to ten years in state prison when sentenced by Judge Arre on August 29, 2024.
Additionally, Davis may face deportation to Jamaica after serving his sentence.