FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Friday, May 20, 2022

JURY CONVICTS AIRBNB HOST OF ASSAULTING RENTER IN 2019

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Thursday, May 19, 2022, a Jersey City Airbnb host was found guilty of assaulting a man who was renting an apartment from him in 2019.

Alexandre Saunders, 30, of Jersey City was convicted of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(7), a crime of the third degree, by a jury following a five day trial before the Honorable

Patrick Arre, J.S.C. A jury found Saunders not guilty of weapons offenses and a second aggravated assault charge.

On Wednesday, December 25, 2019, the Jersey City Police Department responded to a home on Pavonia Avenue on reports of an aggravated assault. Responding officers found a 35-year-old man with a serious injury to his right ear. The investigation determined Saunders was renting a room to the victim through Airbnb. Following a verbal dispute over payment, Saunders lunged at the victim and bit a portion of his ear off.

Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, July 8, 2022. The State is represented in this case by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Edward Bilinkas.