Crime & Safety

Galloway Man Gets 30 Years For Fatally Beating Father

James Sopuch Jr. pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for the 2015 incident.

James Sopuch Jr. was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the bludgeoning death of his father in 2015.
James Sopuch Jr. was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the bludgeoning death of his father in 2015. (Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office)

GALLOWAY, NJ — A Galloway man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday for the bludgeoning death of his father, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday.

James Sopuch Jr. admitted to killing his father, James Sopuch, Sr., during the 2015 incident. He pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in January.

The elder Sopuch was found dead in his Trotters Lane home April 25, 2015. Evidence revealed Sopuch Jr. beat his father to death with two baseball bats, the ACPO said. Autopsy revealed the victim died of blunt-force trauma to his head.

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“We may never know the secrets of this family that remain behind closed doors," Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said in January. "However, family violence continues to contribute to sad, tragic incidents that rip apart the fabric of our community. As a result, the Sopuch family was decimated by alcohol and domestic violence, at the hands of James Sopuch, Jr."

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