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John Gillespie Jr., 37, was sentenced on Friday, Oct. 18 to 25 years in state prison, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said in a news release. Gillespie pleaded guilty on Friday, July 12 to first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Investigators executed a search warrant at a home on Town Bank Road on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. The search was prompted by a tip from the state's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the county prosecutor's office.
About 1,800 items of suspected child pornography were found after multiple computers, tablets, and a hard drive were seized, 6abc Action News reported.
Gillespie was indicted on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, for first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material).
After his arrest, the Garden State Council of newly renamed Scouting America said the accusations against Gillespie didn't involve any Boy Scouts.
"The allegations against John T. Gillespie Jr. are disturbing and opposed to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) stands," Garden State Council scout executive Patrick Linfors said in a statement to 6abc. "He was a local volunteer in Garden State Council. Immediately upon learning of his arrest, his registration was revoked and he was placed in our volunteer screening database precluding him from future registration or participation in the Boy Scouts of America.
"It is our understanding at this time that the alleged behaviors do not involve scouts, but please be assured we will cooperate fully with law enforcement as requested."
As part of his sentence, Gillespie must register as a sex offender under Megan's Law and have lifetime parole supervision.
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