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Unique Robinson, 25, will spend 90 to 180 months behind bars for a Jan. 2, 2023, assault, Judge Ryan Tira ruled Tuesday morning.
During court proceedings earlier this year, a female victim testified that Robinson held a knife to her throat and raped her at his residence, 943 Memorial Ave., after she refused his sexual advances. Robinson then cut her neck and a fight ensued during which she escaped.
In January, a jury convicted Robinson on charges of aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, simple assault, strangulation, and reckless endangerment, but acquitted him of criminal attempted homicide, rape and sexual assault.
Two factors were at play in finding an appropriate sentence, rehabilitation and the safety of the public, defense attorney Peter Lovecchio argued in calling for a reduced sentence.
Robinson will be released at some point as a young man, which requires a "creative sentence," to prepare him for reintegration into society, Lovecchio said.
"This was a targeted incident with a former partner. It was a domestic violence incident," the attorney argued, stressing that he was not a danger to the public.
Robinson's actions were "inexcusable, I'm not disputing that," his mother said, addressing presiding Judge Ryan Tira.
"I ask that you find it in your heart to not take him away from his family," she pleaded, adding that Robinson has a six year old daughter, who has never been away from her father.
"He has been a better father to his child than his father ever was to him."
Robinson, who's only prior record was a drug charge he received while in the presence of his father, understands the severity of the conviction, and is still young enough to learn from this experience, his mother said.
Calling the incident the "worst thing that ever happened to me," the victim told Tira that she suffers from nightmares and flashbacks.
She expressed disbelief that at the age of 20, she could have easily lost her life, and spoke of having the scar on her neck as a permanent reminder of the attack.
"I pray for justice," she said, adding that the incident has impacted her in every way possible.
In an emotional address to the court, the victim's mother stated that that was "the worst phone call of my life," fearing that her daughter was dead.
She stated that she had moved from northern New Jersey in order to provide a better life for her children.
Her daughter now suffers from depression and other mental issues following the ordeal, she testified.
"It would've been a different situation if my daughter had not fought back. It would've been a murder case," she said.
Robinson claims to care about his daughter and girlfriend, but put that relationship in jeopardy by cheating on her with the victim, his mother said. Further his actions showed his daughter the wrong way to ever treat a woman, she said.
Lovecchio countered that Robinson had been acquitted of both his sex assault and attempted homicide charges.
Calling the attack "mind boggling," Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade said Robinson displayed "dangerous anti-social behavior" and a complete disregard for basic human morals.
Robinson made false statements to authorities, blaming the victim, and has received disciplinary actions against him since his incarceration, one as recent as March 25, when he was found to be in possession of a "note" with a white substance on it.
There is a high probability that Robinson will hurt or possibly kill others if not removed from society for a significant amount of time, Wade argued.
Robinson repeatedly failed to take responsibility for his actions, instead attempting several times to shift the blame, Tira said before handing down his sentence.
"This is an instance where the cover-up was worse than the initial action," he said, stating that rather than fess up to his infidelity, he attempted to silence the victim.
Despite growing up with possibly not the best home life, "putting a knife to someone's throat is pretty clearly wrong," the judge said.
Robinson will be required to serve 12 months of supervised probation upon his eventual release, and was ordered to have no contact with the victim or her family.