A 14-year-old Wyoming boy who died defending his girlfriend was held down by one assailant while another stabbed him to death, prosecutors say. Now, both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Bobby Maher, 14, went to the Eastridge Mall in Casper with a friend expressly to protect his girlfriend and her friend, who were being followed on April 7, according to the Casper Police Department.
By 1:41 p.m., Maher was unconscious outside the Hibachi Supreme Buffet. Adults already at the scene when first responders arrived tried to save his life with CPR and first aid, but their efforts were in vain.
On June 21, Jarreth Joseflee Sebastian Plunkett, 15, was arraigned on charges of murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault and battery, and theft. He pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency to all four charges.
On June 26, Dominique Antonio Richard Harris, 15, was arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, aggravated assault and battery, and misdemeanor theft. He pleaded not guilty to each of those three charges. Meanwhile, his attorney reserved the right to plead not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency, according to a courtroom report by Cowboy State Daily.
Police say both Harris and Plunkett admitted to stealing kitchen knives from a Target at the mall prior to the altercation and stabbing.
Earlier that day, Harris and Plunkett had been playing hide-and-seek in a Best Buy, according to an affidavit obtained by local K2 Radio. Asked about the masks, Harris allegedly told police he and Plunkett wore them because they wanted to “cause trouble.” During a bond hearing, a defense attorney said the masks in question were referred to as “shiesties” and were influenced by the same style of mask often worn by rapper Pooh Shiesty, according to Cowboy State Daily.
After the game, the two accused teens allegedly decided to steal the knives. Later, they came into contact with Maher’s girlfriend and allegedly began following her. When the pair saw Maher leaving a DICK’s Sporting Goods, trouble came.
The verbal altercation allegedly started outside the sporting goods store — and a large group of people quickly amassed to watch.
Eventually, the assailants flanked the boy, the affidavit alleges. Then, Harris can be seen grabbing Maher “around the waist, lifting him off the ground, and slamming him down with great force on his left side.”
The death blows came quickly after, police say.
“Dominique is seen holding (Maher) while Jarreth jumped in,” the affidavit goes on – referring to a cellular phone video. “Dominique appeared to strike (Maher) in the face, while Jarreth is observed swinging the knife in a downward motion, stabbing (Maher) twice.”
During the bond hearing, the court viewed the audio-free video showing the fatal stabbing. In the footage, Maher gets to his feet after the attack, takes a few steps toward a mall entrance, then collapses.
Harris, who is not facing a murder charge but who still faces life in prison, allegedly admitted to holding Maher down in an interview with police but said he thought “it was to make sure the fight was over.”
Both defendants are being charged as adults.
After the second teenager’s arraignment this week, Natrona County District Court Judge Kerri M. Johnson penciled in a September trial date – but she said it was only a placeholder.