John Linnington, center, is accused of having his family try to get the victim to recant. From left: His sister, Christa Linnington; mother, Marie Linnington, and uncle James Linnington.
A witness-tampering case that involved several members of a Cape May County family now has led to criminal charges against the main defendant’s former attorney.
Attorney David Stefankiewicz, 63, was charged Thursday with witness tampering and conspiracy to commit witness tampering in the case that started with a domestic violence case against his client.
“The charge against me is just a load of baloney,” Stefankiewicz told BreakingAC. “It has absolutely no merit whatsoever. I’m completely innocent.”
He said that his law career of more than 35 years handling thousands of cases speaks for itself: “My record for candor, fairness and ethical conduct has been absolutely spotless.”
It all started with allegations that John Linnington brutally attacked a woman who was pregnant with his child at the time.
Linnington, now 33, of North Cape May, was arrested April 22, 2022, and charged with attempted murder and other crimes after he allegedly punched, kicked and bit the woman before beating her with a metal curtain rod until.
The woman, identified only by her initials, escaped out a window, according to the allegations.
After Linnington’s arrest, the woman came forward with more instances of domestic abuse at the hands of Linnington, who faced at least three other cases as a result.
He was ordered detained and was told he could have no contact with the victim, including through third parties.
But that allegedly did not stop him from enlisting his uncle, sister, mother and grandmother in trying to get the victim to recant or lessen her claims, according to the affidavits of probable cause.
The alleged conspiracy continued over 11 months, the state alleges.
The women have been offered pretrial intervention, according to information released during a court hearing for the family Monday, but on the condition they plead guilty. Their attorneys indicated that was an issue.
Also at issue during the hearing was that John Linnington — who has been jailed more than two years awaiting an outcome to his case — had hit the deadline for release Monday, under the Speedy Trial Act.
It was a date that seemed to have snuck up on all sides in the case.
The reason: an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office that led to John Linnington’s former defense attorney becoming the family’s co-defendant, Assistant Prosecutor Bryna Batten told the judge.
She said the case now fell under complex litigation, allowing for excludable time.
Judge Christopher Gibson granted it until the next court date, Sept. 23.
Meanwhile, Stefankiewicz is being prosecuted separately by Deputy Attorney General Brian Carney.
The attorney-turned-defendant says he was never contacted during the investigation. He stepped down as Linnington’s attorney months ago, with Lou Barbone taking over in April, according to information given during the Linningtons’ court hearing.
“In this case, the state was never interested in the truth,” Stefankiewicz said. “They never once contacted me for my side of the story or even to ask any questions.
“In my view, it appears they were only interested in seizing an opportunity to make me a target and to remove a thorn in their side,” he added. “Now I reserve the rest of my comments for the appropriate forum.”
Stefankiewicz has not said who will be representing him.
He was charged on a summons, so was never processed at the jail.
