MANCHESTER – A Seaside Heights man was sentenced to 22 years in State prison for the stabbing death of a man during a drug deal.
John T. Mullen, Jr., 51, of Seaside Heights had pleaded guilty in September to aggravated manslaughter. Because of the No Early Release Act, he will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being considered for parole.
Thomas J. Applegate, 34, of Manchester, had been stabbed in the entrance driveway to the Surf and Stream Campground in Manchester on October 20, 2019.
An investigation by Manchester Police, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that Mullen stabbed Mr. Applegate during the course of a drug deal, which ultimately resulted in his death.
“The law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation – through sheer hard work and resolve – swiftly identified Mullen as the individual responsible for Mr. Applegate’s death and quickly brought him into custody,” Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer stated. “The exceptional teamwork displayed by these law enforcement professionals has brought about a lengthy state prison sentence for Mullen, which may, as Judge Guy Ryan pointed out, effectively result in a life sentence given this defendant’s age and longstanding history of substance abuse. We hope this sentence affords the family of Mr. Applegate some level of peace and closure.”
Billhimer commended the diligence of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michael Abatemarco and Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara 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, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
