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“It’s my understanding they are still in love and want to be together,” defense attorney Aaron Miller told Superior Court Judge Edward A. Jerejian during Friday’s sentencing for 22-year-old Tavin Mann.
He said the girlfriend, who now has a baby boy with Mann, “has been on the phone with me from the beginning asking me to get him help” — specifically through a drug treatment program.
“Punishing Mr. Mann is also punishing the victim,” Miller continued. “She visits him in jail and brings their son. He has been able to meet him there under limited circumstances.
“She wants him out – and I think we need to give deference to her wishes.”
The judge disagreed.
“Rehabilitation doesn’t work with Mr. Mann,” he said. “He has been on probation before. His drug court application was rejected. He’s a serious offender and continues to be a threat to her.”
The judge also said he hopes the sentence sends a signal that domestic violence won’t be tolerated.
Mann has violated a series of restraining orders, Jerejian said, adding that the latest incident — in May of last year — also represents a parole volation.
Mann’s crime was especially cruel, he said: “In some sort of anger over her cellphone, you proceeded to assault her in a serious way when she was 6 months pregnant – kicking her in the face — when she was pregnant with your child,” the judge said.
Mann ducked authorities for several months after being charged.
Before that, he had 10 adult arrests and five felony convictions, Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Keith Travers said.
“The defendant denies having any anger management problems,” Travers said, saying that Mann blamed his criminal history on “a lack of respect and a lack of communication.”
Mann pleaded guilty in March to one count of causing serious bodily injury after admitting he threatened from jail to shoot the woman when he got out. Prosecutors reduced the charge in exchange for his plea.
STORY / PHOTO: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter
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