Ocean County officials reported that on June 13, Donald Rutter, 53, of Tuckerton, pled guilty before the Honorable Wendel E. Daniels, J.S.C. (retired and temporarily assigned on recall), to Aggravated Assault in connection with an incident that occurred during the evening hours of January 5, 2021, in Little Egg Harbor Township. Additionally, Rutter pled guilty to Stalking.
At the time of his sentencing on July 25, 2022, the State will be seeking a term of seven years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the Aggravated Assault charge, which will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2, and 18 months NJSP as to the Stalking charge.
The sentences are to run concurrently. The State will also be seeking a Stalking Restraining Order at the time of sentencing.
On January 5, 2021, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Little Egg Harbor Township Police were dispatched to Jarvis Marine on Radio Road in response to a 911 call about an individual being shot.
Responding Officers found Thomas Jarvis, 55, of Little Egg Harbor, with an apparent gunshot wound to his midsection.
Mr. Jarvis was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center. Mr. Jarvis was treated for his injuries and eventually released from the hospital.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit revealed that Rutter was, in fact, the individual who shot Mr. Jarvis.
An exhaustive search of the surrounding area by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Regional SWAT Team, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Park Police, United States Marshals Service, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Tuckerton Police Department, was unsuccessful in locating Rutter in the aftermath of the shooting.
As such, a warrant was issued for Rutter’s arrest.
On January 28, 2021, Rutter was ultimately located in Atlantic City and taken into custody, without incident, by the United States Marshals Service. He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his apprehension.