I need to be able to put a Range into my JSON Assertions

I need to be able to put a Range into my JSON Assertions

JSONPath Expression
$.searchResult.products

Expected Result
${SBS DataSource#count}

If I try -
${SBS DataSource#countLowerRange} <= $.searchResult.products is true

it throws the following error -
Assertion failed. Path [${SBS DataSource#count} = $.searchResult.products]:AssertionException:Assertion failed. Path [${SBS DataSource#count} = S.searchResult.products]: ClassCastException:java.lang.String cannot be cast to net.sf.json.JSON.

Thanks,

Laura