Asbury Park Man Indicted For 2 Home Invasions, Sex Assault

ASBURY PARK, NJ - An Asbury Park man was indicted this week in connection to two home invasions that occurred in his hometown, prosecutors said.

On Tuesday, a Monmouth County Grand Jury indicted Shawn Connolly, 34, for two counts of first degree armed robbery, two counts of first degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second degree burglary, two counts of third degree terroristic threats, thee counts of third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and two counts of fourth degree unlawful posession of a weapon.

On Sept. 14, at approximately 5:27 a.m., residents of an Asbury Park home awoke to Connolly with a knife in his hand, threatening to harm them during a robbery. One of the victims was sexually assaulted by Connolly, prosecutors said.

Members of the Asbury Park Police Department found Connolly still at the scene upon arrival and he was placed under arrest.

Over the course of the investigation, Asbury Park police received a report from another victim that her home had been broken into earlier that same morning at approximately 2:30 a.m. by a man threatening her with a knife. Connolly was later identified as the suspect in the second reported home invasion.

If convicted, Connolly faces to 20 years in state prison on each count of armed robbery as well as the aggravated sexual assault, up to 10 years state prison on each count of burglary, up to five years in state prison for each count of terroristic threats and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and up to 18 months state prison for each count of unlawful possession of a weapon. Additionally, he would be subject to Parole Supervision for Life and would be required to register under Megan’s Law.

Connolly remains incarcerated. It was not immediately clear whether he is being lodged.