October 3, 2025
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a Mount Vernon man was sentenced to three years in state prison in connection to a vicious domestic violence attack on his former fiancée. This assault occurred in Ardsley on March 6, 2024.
Jason Cabassa, 41 years old, was sentenced by Judge George Fufidio for Strangulation in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony offense. Judge Fufidio also sentenced Cabassa to one to three years in state prison for Aggravated Criminal Contempt, one to three years for Criminal Contempt and 364 days on each of the following misdemeanors—Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, Assault in the 3rd Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree. Cabassa was found guilty of these charges after a jury trial in August.
These sentences will run concurrently. Cabassa will also serve two years of post-release supervision.
DA Cacace said: “With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it makes this sentencing especially significant. It is paramount that we continue to raise awareness about domestic violence and that we do everything we can to support survivors of domestic abuse.”
In her victim’s impact statement, the survivor of this domestic violence incident powerfully stated the following: “This crime did not just leave physical scars — it left emotional, mental, and spiritual wounds that I am still working to heal. I go to therapy, and I pray every day for strength and for peace. But I am not the same person I was before.”
Also in her statement, which was read aloud in court at the sentencing, the victim continued: “Even though more than a year has passed, I am still living with the consequences… I carry deep anxiety, sadness, and fear that affect my daily life."
The victim’s statements highlight the severity of domestic violence strangulation offenses and the impact they have on survivors. In fact, in a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, non-lethal strangulation is an important predictor for future lethal violence among women who are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2573025/#S1
The District Attorney’s Office fought for the maximum sentence of seven years in state prison on this case. In advocating for the maximum sentence, ADA Michelle Lopez, Chief of the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Bureau stated, “Strangulation is a weapon-just as dangerous as a knife or a gun, both in its ability and effectiveness in instilling fear and its potential in taking a life.”
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM.) This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the widespread issue of domestic violence, honoring survivors, and encouraging action and support for those affected
###
