Metro

Surprise verdict reached in case involving LI mom who allegedly ran over son’s teen bully: ‘ Happy with the outcome’

A notorious Long Island mom charged with repeatedly running over her teen son’s reputed bully was sensationally acquitted of attempted murder Tuesday in a surprise verdict, according to a local report.

Jennifer Nelson, 36, had faced up to 25 years in prison for repeatedly ramming her Honda Passport into a 15-year-old boy she believed had stolen her child’s Adidas Ye slides last October.

But it took a Suffolk County jury less than four hours to clear her of the top rap, and instead opt for a lesser conviction of leaving the scene of an accident with serious injuries.

Her attorneys said they would seek a sentence of probation in the case.

“I’m just happy I finally go to tell my son’s story and I appreciate the jury for their decision,” Nelson told Newsday after the verdict. “I’m just happy with the outcome.”

Jennifer Nelson had faced up to 25 years in prison on the top count of attempted murder. Dennis A. Clark

Witnesses told investigators they saw Nelson speed up toward accused bully James Gamez in a parking lot as he tried to take cover inside a bagel shop.

Passing drivers said they saw her strike the teen once before crashing into him a second time and then leaving the scene.

In building their case, prosecutors noted Nelson traded in her vehicle that same day in an attempt to conceal the alleged crime.

But their case was hampered by a lack of footage of the incident.

Gamez suffered a broken pelvis, a punctured lung and several broken ribs.

Jennifer Nelson, 35, of Shirley is now charged with attempted murder.
It took jurors less than four hours to reach their verdict in the case. Newsday/James Carbone

Testifying in her own defense, Nelson said she was unaware she had stuck anyone and did not intend to injure the boy.

“I would have called the police if I knew I hit someone,” said Nelson, the outlet reported.

The violent confrontation came two hours after Nelson was captured on cell phone camera pulling a knife on a group of teens she believed had just beaten and robbed her son.

Nelson’s son had accused several classmates at William Floyd High School of giving him a broken nose and a concussion after stealing his shoes and an AirPod.

The boy called his enraged mother, who confronted the teens near the school roughly half an hour later.

Nelson said she only wanted to scare the assailants when she had threatened them with a blade.