Wayne Man Sentenced For Delaware Water Gap Assault

WAYNE, NJ — A Wayne man was sentenced to 21 months in prison on Tuesday for assaulting two people on the banks of the Delaware River in September 2019.

Jeffrey Mulcahy, 59, of Wayne, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey.

Court documents and statements say that two people were swimming in the Delaware River in the Kittatinny Point area of the Delaware Water Gap on Sept. 2, 2019, when they were approached by Mulcahy.

After striking up a conversation about fishing while the two individuals were swimming, Mulcahy left the area, but returned shortly after with a beer in hand, authorities said.

When he returned, both of the swimmers said he Mulcahy "appeared agitated." After a brief conversation, Mulcahy pulled a gun from his waistband — later revealed to be a pellet gun — and put it to the head of one victim, according to the authorities.

Here's what the Attorney's Office said happened next:

"While pointing the gun at Victim 2, Mulcahy ordered Victims 1 and 2 to the ground. Mulcahy then pointed the gun at Victim 1 and stated that he was going to kill Victim 1 if Victim 1 did not listen to him. Mulcahy struck Victim 1 in the head and neck area with the handgun. Mulcahy then began pulling rope out of his pocket and attempted to get Victim 1’s hands behind Victim 1’s back. Victim 1 resisted and was able to take Mulcahy to the ground, where the two began a physical struggle. Mulcahy’s handgun fell to the ground and Victim 2 recovered it and left to contact law enforcement."

Mulcahy left the area after the struggle, but was later arrested in Hackettstown, New Jersey, authorities said.

In addition to the prison term, Mulcahy was sentenced to three years of supervised release and fined $2,000.

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