Former Deptford Police Officer James A. Stuart Sentenced to 30 Years
Saturday, January 30, 2016
WOODBURY N.J.--(January 29, 2016)--Former Deptford police officer James A. Stuart was sentenced today to 30 years in New Jersey state prison for his conviction in the 1/5/13 fatal shooting of a friend.
The sentence imposed by Superior Court Judge Robert P. Becker for murder and aggravated manslaughter is to be served without parole. The sentence was what Assistant Prosecutor Dana Anton had requested. AP Anton presented the case against Stuart in his September 2015 trial.
A five-year Deptford officer, Stuart was found guilty of knowingly firing a shot from a handgun that struck the face of 27-year-old David Compton, a friend of the defendant from Woodbury, Compton, an engineer, died six days later. The shooting occurred at Stuart’s Deptford home while he was off-duty and after a night of drinking. Stuart was intoxicated at the time.
“David Compton was a son, a father and a friend to many, whose life was senselessly and tragically cut short,” Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton said. “IT is our hope this sentence provides a measure of justice to his family and friends, who will mourn his loss for many years to come.”