Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Lateef Dennis, 40, of Newark of one count of aggravated assault and one count of spitting on a police officer.
Officials say on April 17, 2017 at approximately 1:30 a.m. Newark Police officers responded to domestic violence incident in the 700 block of South 11th Street in Newark.
According to the testimony at trial, when the officers arrived, they witnessed an unconscious man on the front lawn of the residence. Over the unconscious man, officers observed Dennis repeatedly punching the victim in the face.
After the man awoke, officers discovered that he was Dennis’ uncle. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he remained for three days undergoing surgery and treatment. Doctors observed that the victim’s lower jaw was broken on both sides, that he had three broken ribs, a broken cheek bone, and contusions all over his face.
After police officers handcuffed Dennis, he spit in a police officer’s face. That officer was transported to the hospital to have the spit cleaned from his nostrils and eye.
Yesterday, following a three-day trial before the Honorable Michael Petrolle, Judge of the Superior Court, an Essex County jury convicted Dennis of aggravated assault on his uncle and spitting on a police officer. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 7 before Judge Petrolle.
Dennis has six prior felony convictions for animal cruelty, resisting arrest, aggravated assault, drug possession and possession with intent to distribute. Most recently in Essex County, he was convicted on March 18, 2019 for cruelly for beating a pit bull dog. He is remanded to New Jersey State Prison, where he is currently serving an 18-month sentence for the animal cruelty conviction.
Assistant Prosecutor Jason Lesnevec, who successfully tried Dennis on this case and the animal cruelty case said, “It is unfortunate that the victim in this case elected not to testify at trial; however, this verdict signifies that the State of New Jersey can prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt even when the jury does not hear from the victim.”