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James Weinerman, of Weymouth Township, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison for aggravated assault, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
The State is expected to appeal the sentence since the original plea deal called for an eight-year prison sentence, the prosecutor said.
On Sept. 12, 2020, New Jersey State troopers responded to a report of a domestic dispute at 33 South Jersey Ave. in Weymouth.
Ultimately, this led to the defendant barricading himself in his residence while in possession of multiple firearms, prompting the initiation of a response from multiple State Police Units.
After speaking with Weinerman’s girlfriend, police learned that earlier in the day, a verbal argument escalated to the point where Weinerman wouldn’t let her and her children leave the residence.
Weinerman commented that nobody was going to be able to leave when he shot the engine block of her car.
He then fired a single round from a long gun, striking the front of the victim’s car while she was within 10 feet of it.
A call was placed to 911. Weinerman barricaded himself inside the residence and refused to come out causing State Police to respond.
Crisis negotiators established contact with Weinerman.
The N.J.S.P. T.E.A.M.S. Unit moved into position with two Bearcats (armored police vehicles) for a possible breach, if necessary. After approximately five minutes, Weinerman fired several rounds out of an open rear doorway in the direction of one of the Bearcats.
The Bearcat had approximately 10 State troopers either in the vehicle or behind it.
These rounds also struck other unoccupied vehicles in proximity of the State Troopers, forcing police to retreat into the Bearcat for safety.
After several hours of negotiations, Weinerman agreed to surrender to law enforcement.
Weinerman forcefully resisted arrest, prompting K-9 deployment and a subsequent bite when police attempted to handcuff him.
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