CASPER — The now 16-year-old boy who took the life of Bobby Maher, 14, at the end of knife outside a Casper mall and “shocked” the community April 7, 2024, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Jarreth Plunkett in May agreed to a deal with Natrona County District Attorney and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault. He said he was exacting a “blood debt” from Maher for the 14-year-old’s remarks in a park.
Plunkett also put a stolen knife to the chest of Maher’s friend at the mall that day and threatened to “shank” him.
Plunkett sat beside his attorney Curtis Cheney in Natrona County District Court on Friday to receive his mandatory life sentence from Judge Catherine Wilking.
He swiveled in his chair on occasion as the judge addressed his future and the “cowardice” of his actions.
“The PSI (pre-sentence investigation) writer indicated a lack of remorse,” the judge said.
She said Plunkett also had been moved from the Natrona County Juvenile Detention Center to the adult jail’s nursing ward because of his bad behavior.
Wilking said she does not understand the “fragility” of a generation who, because of a remark, needs to exact revenge with a knife.
She said Plunkett could have fought Maher with his fists and had a different future.
On top of everything, Plunkett allegedly then boasted about killing Maher.
“There are credible reports about him bragging about what he has done,” she said.
Wilking said she hoped Plunkett has a change of attitude as he enters his stay with the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
The judge said while Plunkett showed cowardice in stabbing Maher, “the thing you did that’s not an act of cowardice is to take responsibility in this case.”
She then imposed the mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder that Plunkett and gave him nine to 10 years in prison for the aggravated assault charge. The charges will be served concurrently.
Under the plea deal, charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and misdemeanor theft were dropped.
‘Pack Of Wolves’
Prior to sentencing, District Attorney Dan Itzen characterized Plunkett’s actions at the Eastridge Mall in Casper that day as a situation that “shocked” the community and the entire state of Wyoming.
He said when parents turn children like Plunkett — who had a long record of fights and issues in school — loose on the community, his office will continue to “hand out life sentences.”
In describing Plunkett’s and his co-defendant Dominique Harris’ actions on April 7 last year that were captured on smartphone video by a youth at the scene, Itzen said they “encircled” their victim.
“What it reminds you of is a pack of wolves hunting down their prey,” Itzen said.
He pointed out that when Plunkett pulled out his knife, Maher asked him to put it away because it wasn’t fair.
Itzen reminded the court of Plunkett’s reply.
“I don’t fight fair,” Itzen quoted the defendant.
Itzen said the actions of Plunkett and his co-defendant changed the character of the Casper community and introduced a level of youth violence it had not previously experienced.
He asked the court to consider the Maher family’s loss, their victim impact statements and the fact that Bobby Maher will not pursue a promising basketball journey or be able to buy his first car because of Plunkett’s actions.
“He wants to be a little gangster and thug and there is no room for that in this community,” Itzen said.
He asked the judge to impose the life sentence, and the nine to 10 years for the aggravated assault.
‘Tragic Situation’
Defense attorney Curtis Cheney characterized his client’s actions as a “tragic situation for all that are involved” and admitted he “struggled” to make sense of the case.
Cheney said when he first met Plunkett, he took a photo of him knowing that he had just turned 15 prior to the stabbing.
“It was hard for me to see a young person in that situation,” Cheney said, adding that since then his client has matured and grown.
He said his conversations with Plunkett have revealed that he misses his family, that he loves animals, has an interest in cooking and plays the saxophone.
“As I got to know him, he is in many ways a young child,” he said.
Cheney said Plunkett has an interest in schooling and has shown evidence of “some trauma” as well as mental health challenges and violence in his life. He said the pre-sentence report shows he also has a problem with substance use.
Cheney said Plunkett “takes issue” with the pre-sentence report regarding his attitude and that he is “profoundly regretful” and “wishes he made different choices that day.”
“I have seen growth and change,” Cheney said. “I believe Mr. Plunkett is redeemable.”
Judge Wilking asked Plunkett if he had anything to say.
“No ma’am,” he said.
In addition to his sentences, Plunkett also was ordered to pay $11,118 in restitution.
Members of both the Maher family and Plunkett’s family were in the courtroom, but none of them spoke prior to his sentencing.
Maher family attorney Ryan Semerad said they had “no comment” about the sentencing.
Parole Possible
As a juvenile sentenced to life in prison, Plunkett is eligible to be considered for parole after serving 25 years, Itzen said following the hearing.
Plunkett’s co-defendant Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder last month in a plea deal with Itzen. Charges of aggravated assault and theft will be dropped as part of the deal. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered.
A video played during a Casper Circuit Court preliminary hearing in the case shows that Plunkett and Harris confronted Maher’s girlfriend and another friend after they got off a bus in Evansville last April and asked them where Maher was.
When they told him he was in Mills, Plunkett asked his friend, “You wanna pay his blood debt?”
A Casper police detective also testified that Plunkett two days before the killing had told Harris that he wanted to “gut that dude.”
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
