Prosecutor: Man Found Guilty of 2020 First Date Sexual Assault at Sandy Hook

March 3, 2022 Elaine Van Develde

A out-of-area 28-year-old man has been convicted on sexual assault charges stemming from the 2020 assault of a woman after their first date on Sandy Hook and is facing up to 20 years in prison, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Thursday.

Kawami R. Junor, of Bayonne, was convicted on all charges: second-degree sexual assault, third-degree criminal restraint, and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, following an approximately weeklong trial before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley and several hours of jury deliberation.

“I am personally in awe of the courage it took for this victim to step onto the witness stand and describe what happened to her in vivid detail,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “This verdict is a tribute to her bravery, and delivers the justice she deserves.”

Junor was also found guilty of assault by auto, a disorderly persons offense, by Judge Oxley following the verdict. Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for Friday, May 6, at which time Junor will face up to 20 years in state prison.

The case background …

On Friday, June 5, 2020, near Lot C of the Gateway National Recreation Area Sandy Hook Unit, a good Samaritan flagged down a member of the National Park Service to alert them to the presence of an injured adult female in the area. The victim, who had sustained a leg injury, was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

An investigation by the MCPO Special Victims Bureau determined that the victim and Junor had met the day before in Jersey City and had agreed to go on a first date at Sandy Hook. But after spending time on the beach, the investigation determined, he guided her to the backseat of his vehicle, forcibly removed her clothing, exposed himself, and sexually assaulted her — all while she loudly and repeatedly refused consent.

The victim fought back physically, and when she opened the car door to leave, Junor pushed her out onto the pavement and left the scene in his BMW, running over her foot on the way out of the parking lot.

The victim’s testimony, the witness’s testimony, and physical and digital evidence were leveraged to prove the case at trial.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office