The proposed bill was prompted by two recent assaults in Mercer County
TRENTON -- Those who assault an elderly or disabled person may soon face a harsher punishment under a bill that is being proposed by state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer).
The legislation was spurred by two recent incidents.
Late last month in Ewing, a 92-year-old woman was beaten and tied up in her basement during an overnight home invasion and this week, a 78-year-old woman was ripped from her car in the Lawrence Shopping Center after putting away her groceries.
"Criminals that target defenseless elderly or disabled victims should be subjected to harsher penalties, " Turner said. "The predators in those cases chose their victims because of their age. Criminals that prey on people who are vulnerable should be punished more severely."
Under the proposed bill, a person who causes bodily injury to an elderly or disabled person would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and would be sentenced to a mandatory three-year prison term.
Currently, Turner said, there is no sentencing enhancement when the victim is elderly or disabled.
She plans to introduce the bill next week.
"Ultimately, the increased punishment should act as a deterrent and these predators will think twice before preying on an elderly or disabled victim," the senator said. "It's deplorable that our senior citizens are being targeted in their homes and at public shopping centers. We need to send a strong message to criminals that the abuse of helpless victims will not be tolerated."
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.