Ocean Co. Man Sentenced For Stalking, Shooting Man

TUCKERTON, NJ — A Tuckerton man was sentenced to New Jersey State Prison for assaulting and stalking a Little Egg Harbor man in 2021, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Donald Rutter, 53, was sentenced to five years in prison for his guilty plea to aggravated assault, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. This sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act, meaning Rutter has to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before being considered for parole eligibility.

Rutter was also sentenced to 18 months in prison for his guilty plea to stalking, Billhimer said. These sentences are to run co-currently, he said. Additionally, a Permanent Stalking Restraining Order was executed, barring Rutter from ever contacting the victim, Thomas Jarvis, 55, of Little Egg Harbor, Billhimer said.

On Jan 5., 2021 at about 7:30 p.m. Rutter shot Jarvis in his midsection, Billhimer said.

Rutter fled after the shooting and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Billhimer said. 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 were unable to immediately find Rutter.

Jarvis was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and eventually released, Billhimer said.

On Jan. 28, 2021, the United States Marshals Service found Rutter in Atlantic City, and he has been sitting in Ocean County Jail ever since, Billhimer said.

Billhimer acknowledged the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Meghan O’Neill and Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as 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, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Tuckerton Police Department, for their combined and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation resulting in Rutter’s apprehension, guilty pleas, and now his state prison sentence.