Man in Bally’s AC Sexual Assault Case Could Get Reduced Sentence

A New York man who was sentenced to 42 years in prison for the sexual assault of a Bally’s Atlantic City housekeeper could see his sentence reduced. 

The man, Jamel Carlton, was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, burglary, aggravated assault, and criminal restraint in April 2022. 

This case led to legislation that called for hotel workers in New Jersey to have wearable panic buttons. 

Considered a “persistent offender,” Atlantic City Superior Court Judge Pamela D’Arcy sentenced him to 42 years. 

In other Bally's news, the Evansville, Indiana branch had a partial building collapse late last year. 

His Rights Were Violated?

A state appeals court has now ruled that a jury can reduce his sentence. 

When sentencing him, the appeal court found that D’Arcy violated Carlton’s Fifth (Rights of Persons) and Sixth Amendment (Rights in Cimrinal Prosection) rights. 

Typically, his charge would garner a term of 10 to 20 years, but due to his criminal past and the aggravating circumstances surrounding this case, they pushed for something harsher. 

The appellate panel ruled that the jury is responsible for deciding if there should be an extended sentence as opposed to a judge. 

They also found that his past charges should not affect the sentencing. 

Examining His Offenses 

The initial incident occurred in Feb. 2018. 

First, on Feb. 10 at 5:30 a.m., he was arrested for domestic assault after security officers at Baly’s were able to restrain him from attacking his 41-year-old girlfriend. 

His girlfriend had signs of injury and received treatment. 

He was charged with simple assault and released at 9:00 a.m. He had a summons to appear in court on another date. 

However, somehow, Carlton managed to get back onto the Bally’s property, where he pushed a 51-year-old housekeeper into a room and physically and sexually assaulted her. 

Carlton was identified on security footage. Police later found him walking down Atlantic Avenue. 

When they pursued him, he took off, leading to a chase on foot. 

Following the incident, housekeepers in New Jersey hotels demanded action, which led to legislation mandating that all housekeepers working at hotels with more than 100 rooms have wearable panic buttons.