NJ man sentenced to decades in prison for child sexual assault

A Cape May County man was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting and endangering a child, authorities said.

John T. Gillespie, 37, of North Cape May, pleaded guilty July 12 to aggravated sexual assault in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree, according to Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland .

Gillespie was charged on Feb. 10, 2023, after detectives executed a search warrant at his home related to an investigation into crimes against children involving the internet, Sutherland said.

Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr. of the Supreme Court sentenced Gillespie to 15 years on the sexual assault charge, followed by a consecutive 10-year term on the endangerment charge.

Gillsepie will also have to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and will be on lifelong supervision, prosecutors said.