A Jackson woman has admitted to shooting a 79-year-old man during an incident at a residence on Jackson Pines Road last year and now faces a potential seven-year state prison sentence.
Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer announced that Marian Rojas, 34, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Assault in connection with the October 24, 2025 shooting. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will seek a seven-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison when Rojas is sentenced on August 24, 2026. The sentence would be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act.
The case stems from an incident that unfolded shortly after 9:15 p.m. on October 24, when officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to a residence on Jackson Pines Road for a report of a gunshot victim.
Upon arrival, officers found a 79-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to his shoulder. The victim was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was treated for what authorities described as minor injuries before being released.
Investigators determined that Rojas was responsible for the shooting and had fled the scene before police arrived. A description of both Rojas and her vehicle was immediately distributed to neighboring law enforcement agencies.
Approximately 45 minutes later, at around 10 p.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department located a vehicle matching the description and conducted a motor vehicle stop. Rojas, who was behind the wheel, was taken into custody without incident.
She was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she has remained detained since her arrest.
In announcing the guilty plea, Billhimer emphasized that the resolution of the case was heavily influenced by the wishes of the victim.
“This plea agreement was reached only after extensive discussions with the victim who expressed an unequivocal desire to extend mercy to this defendant,” Billhimer said. “But for the victim’s compassionate and forgiving nature, this plea agreement would have never been contemplated by the State — let alone approved. This defendant should consider herself very fortunate that the victim, in a show of tremendous empathy, requested that this case be resolved in this manner.”
