CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. — A Cape May man has been sentenced to eight years in New Jersey State Prison after pleading guilty to a violent domestic assault on his then-pregnant fiancé, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland announced Friday.

John P. Linnington, 33, was sentenced in Cape May County Superior Court by Judge Bernard E. DeLury following a March 21 guilty plea to first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault by strangulation on a domestic violence victim, and third-degree contempt of a judicial order.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit that began after multiple acts of domestic violence were reported. Linnington was first charged on April 11, 2022, and later indicted on October 17, 2023.

Under the terms of the sentence, Linnington must serve his eight-year term subject to the No Early Release Act, meaning he must complete at least 85% of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Upon release, he will be under five years of parole supervision and is prohibited from contacting the victim.

“The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office will always pursue and prosecute perpetrators of Domestic Violence to the fullest extent of the law to ensure victims receive justice,” Sutherland said in a statement.

Special Victims Unit investigation leads to felony conviction

Prosecutor Sutherland acknowledged the efforts of the Special Victims Unit and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Bryna Batten for their roles in the investigation and prosecution.

Linnington’s plea followed over two years of legal proceedings, including the October 2023 indictment and subsequent preparation for trial.

The court determined that the violence met the threshold for first-degree attempted murder based on the circumstances and severity of the attack, which occurred while the victim was pregnant.

The Prosecutor’s Office emphasized the importance of holding offenders accountable in domestic violence cases, particularly those involving repeat violations of protective orders.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.