CASPER WYOMING, A 17-year-old has been sentenced to decades in prison for his role in the 2024 killing of 14-year-old Bobby Maher Jr. at Eastridge Mall.
Natrona County District Judge Kerri Johnson ordered Dominique Antonio Richard Harris to serve 40 to 75 years in a state correctional facility. Harris was credited with 691 days already served.
Prosecutors said Harris held Maher down while co-defendant Jarreth Joseflee Sebastian Plunkett stabbed him during a confrontation at the mall. Plunkett previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a life sentence. Under Wyoming law, a minor sentenced to life is eligible for parole after 25 years.
Harris initially faced charges including conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and theft. In August, he reached a plea agreement that reduced the conspiracy charge and dismissed the additional counts.
During the sentencing hearing, Harris addressed the court and apologized for his actions, expressing regret and accepting responsibility for his role.
Judge Johnson stated that while Plunkett inflicted the fatal wounds, the attack escalated when Harris approached from behind and forced Maher to the ground. Prosecutors argued that Harris’ actions enabled the fatal stabbing.
According to court records and prior reporting, the fatal encounter followed earlier confrontations between the teens. Two days before the incident, Plunkett allegedly made threatening remarks about Maher.
On April 7, 2024, Harris and Plunkett encountered Maher and his girlfriend at the mall. Investigators said a confrontation occurred outside a sporting goods store, drawing a crowd.
Authorities stated that Harris grabbed Maher from behind and slammed him to the ground. Police said Plunkett then stabbed Maher multiple times. Surveillance and cellphone video were cited in court filings as evidence in the case.
Maher collapsed shortly after the stabbing and later died from his injuries.
Harris previously told investigators he held Maher down to end the fight. The court ultimately determined his actions contributed directly to the fatal outcome.
The case drew significant attention in the community, and the sentencing concludes one phase of the legal proceedings related to Maher’s death.
