Man Who Kicked Woman 'Like A Soccer Ball' In NJ Sentenced

WOODBURY, NJ — A 39-year-old man was sentenced after he kicked a woman "like a soccer ball" and hit her "like a punching bag," the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said.

Jose Velez, 39, of Woodbury, was sentenced to three years in jail after he pleaded guilty as part of an agreement to third-degree aggravated assault and violation of probation.

On Nov. 27, 2025, a 43-year-old woman told Woodbury Police that Velez strangled her until she nearly passed out outside of her home.

She said he then proceeded to kick her "like a soccer ball" and hit her "like a punching bag" during the hours that followed.

Velez was also sentenced to 365 jails in jail for the violation of probation that will run concurrently with the three years.

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