Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced that Nelson Keenan, 42, of Newark was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the November 2007 knifepoint rape of a 53-year-old Irvington woman.
Keenan, who is married, was sentenced today by the Honorable Sherry Hutchins-Henderson. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
In October 2009, an Essex County Superior Court jury convicted Keenan of kidnapping and sexually assaulting the victim. He was also convicted of weapons offenses.
“We think this sentence is just punishment for the injury and fear that he inflicted upon his victim,’’ said Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Celeste Montesino, who tried the case.
Assistant Prosecutor Montesino sought an extended prison term because Keenan has prior convictions. Keenan was sentenced to 20 years for a prior sexual assault conviction. He actually served 10 years in prison for that crime. He also spent time in federal prison for a weapons offense.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Montesino, on Nov. 16, 2007, at around 10 p.m. an Irvington woman was walking to her home when a man approached her. At knifepoint, he forced her into her home where he threatened to kill her and sexually assaulted her. During the struggle the victim sustained severe cuts to her hands after she grabbed the blade of the knife in an effort to fight off her attacker. When Keenan fled the victim’s home, she called police and was taken to the hospital.
Ten days after the assault, the victim saw her attacker on a street in Newark and called 911. Police responded and arrested Keenan. The victim was able to confirm his identity because her attacker has a long scar that ran from his hip down to his thigh.
Acting Prosecutor Laurino commended the Irvington and Newark Police Departments along with Assistant Prosecutor Montesino and Detective Robert Pope of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Special Victim’s Unit.
