Man Sentenced For Drugs, Weapons Offenses In Southern Ocean

JACKSON, NJ — A Jackson man was sentenced to state prison for several different drugs and weapons offenses that occurred in Jackson, Barnegat and Tuckerton, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Shawn Garretson, 51, was sentenced to seven years in New Jersey State Prison with a five-year period of parole ineligibility for his previous guilty pleas to three counts of being a certain person not to possess a weapon, along with five years for his previous guilty plea to possession of methamphetamine, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. These sentences are to run concurrently.

The first incident was Dec. 10, 2019 when, in furtherance of an investigation, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Park Police, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team executed a court-authorized search warrant on Garretson's East Bird Village Road, Billhimer said.

Quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, a sawed-off shotgun and large capacity ammunition magazines were seized, Billhimer said. Garretson was taken into custody and released due to bail reform.

Another search warrant was executed on Garretson's home on Dec. 6, 2022 in furtherance of another investigation, Billhimer said. Detectives again seized a quantity of methamphetamine, three shotguns, two rifles and several large capacity magazines, Billhimer said. Again, Garretson was taken into custody and released due to bail reform.

On March 25, 2024, Barnegat police responded to a home on Gunning River Road for report of an assault. Two people had entered the home and assaulted a man, Billhimer said. One of those who entered was Garretson, according to Billhimer.

A court-authorized Temporary Extreme Risk Protective Order Search Warrant was executed at Garretson's home, where police found an AR-15 rifle and other weapons, Billhimer said. Garretson was taken into custody and again, released due to bail reform.

On Jan. 26, 2025, Tuckerton police stopped a car driven by Garretson, Billhimer said. Stafford police responded with their K-9 unit, who detected a controlled dangerous substance in the car, Billhimer said.

A small quantity of cocaine and a Taurus .40 caliber handgun were found in the car, Billhimer said. Garretson was taken to Ocean County Jail where he has been ever since.