Authorities say a Staten Island man has been sentenced to 16 years in New Jersey state prison for assaulting and attempting to kidnap his ex-girlfriend in 2013.

David Correa was found guilty on Feb. 8 of one count of second degree aggravated assault, one count of third degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of second degree attempted kidnapping and one count of third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said in a statement. He was sentenced on April 29.

"The jury found that David Correa assaulted his former girlfriend, A.G., with a wooden baseball bat and attempted to kidnap her from her residence on July 8, 2013 in the city of Paterson," Valdes said.

According to authorities, Correa's former girlfriend testified during the trial that as she was leaving her home to go to work, Correa hit her in the head with a wooden baseball bat and dragged her to her vehicle. He attempted to force her inside as she continued to kick and scream, the woman said during the trial.

"As she fought and screamed, David Correa stuffed the wig she was wearing into her mouth in an effort to muffle her cries for help," the prosecutor said. "He fled the scene once her neighbors came to her aid. At the scene, police found a bloodied baseball bat, a backpack containing a cellphone that belonged to David Correa and two sets of handcuffs."

David Correa faces a maximum prison term of 10 years on each of the second degree offenses, and he will be required to serve at least 85 percent of the term before being eligible for parole. His sentence also will require that the parole last at least three years, authorities said.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

 

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