Defendant Faces Five Years In State Prison Under No Early Release Act; Sentencing Set For June 5, 2026

Sunday, March 1, 2026, 8:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

MAYS LANDING, NJ.- A 27-year-old Mays Landing man has pleaded guilty to two separate incidents of aggravated assault involving two different domestic violence victims in cases spanning nearly two years and two Atlantic County municipalities.

     On Friday, February 27, 2026, Jerry Vargas-Perez, 27, of Mays Landing, New Jersey, entered guilty pleas to two counts of second-degree aggravated assault on a domestic violence victim before the Honorable Joseph Levin, J.S.C., in Atlantic County Superior Court.

     Under the terms of the plea agreement, Vargas-Perez faces a recommended sentence of five years in New Jersey State Prison. The sentence will be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), requiring him to serve 85 percent of the term before becoming eligible for parole.

First Assault: Atlantic City Incident In 2022;

     The first incident occurred on November 26, 2022, when officers with the Atlantic City Police Department responded to a domestic violence call in the area of Winchester and North Providence Avenues in the City.

     According to investigators, Vargas-Perez placed his hands around the victim’s neck and strangled her until she nearly lost consciousness. Responding officers arrested him at the scene.

     Following his arrest, the State moved to detain Vargas-Perez pending trial. That motion was denied by the Court, and he was released under pretrial conditions.

Second Assault: Hamilton Township Incident In 2024;

     Less than two years later, on July 6, 2024, officers with the Hamilton Township Police Department were dispatched to Kenwood Court in response to another reported domestic violence assault.

     Investigators determined that Vargas-Perez again placed his hands around the victim’s neck and strangled her, this time until she could not breathe. Authorities confirmed the victim in this incident was a different individual from the victim in the 2022 case.

     Vargas-Perez was arrested at the scene for the second time.

     Following this arrest, the State filed a second motion for detention. The Court granted the motion, and Vargas-Perez has remained detained pending resolution of the charges.

Legal Consequences Under NERA;

     Because both counts are second-degree aggravated assault charges involving strangulation, a factor New Jersey law treats as particularly serious in domestic violence cases, the plea agreement falls under the state’s No Early Release Act.

     NERA mandates that individuals convicted of certain violent offenses must serve at least 85 percent of their sentence before being eligible for parole. For Vargas-Perez, that would require him to serve approximately four years and three months before potential release consideration, assuming the Court imposes the recommended five-year sentence.

Sentencing Scheduled For June;

     Sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2026, before Judge Levin in Atlantic County Superior Court. The Court retains ultimate discretion at sentencing, but typically gives significant weight to negotiated plea agreements.

     The cases highlight the continued focus by Atlantic County law enforcement agencies on prosecuting domestic violence offenses involving strangulation, which medical and legal experts identify as a high-risk indicator for escalating violence.

     No further details about the victims were released in accordance with New Jersey’s domestic violence confidentiality protections.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and is based on court proceedings and publicly released information regarding the defendant’s guilty plea in Atlantic County Superior Court. Under New Jersey law, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty; in this case, the defendant has entered guilty pleas to the charges outlined above. Sentencing remains pending as of publication. Englebrook Independent News does not publish the names of domestic violence victims in accordance with state privacy protections.