CASPER — The now-16-year-old boy who killed Bobby Maher, 14, with a knife outside a Casper mall on April 7, 2024, and “shocked” the community, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
In May, Jarreth Plunkett reached an agreement with the Natrona County District Attorney and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault. He demanded a “blood debt” from Maher for the 14-year-old’s comments in a park.
Plunkett also placed a stolen knife against Maher’s friend’s chest at the mall that day and threatened to “shank” him.
Plunkett sat with 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 at times as the judge discussed his future and the “cowardice” of his actions.
“The PSI (pre-sentence investigation) writer indicated a lack of remorse,” the prosecuting attorney claimed.
She also stated that Plunkett had been transferred from the Natrona County Juvenile Detention Center to the adult jail’s nursing ward due to his poor behavior.
Wilking stated that she does not understand the “fragility” of a generation that, in response to a remark, feels compelled to exact revenge with a knife.
She claimed Plunkett could have fought Maher with his fists and had a different outcome.
On top of that, Plunkett allegedly boasted about killing Maher.
“There are credible reports about him bragging about what he has done,” she told me.
Wilking said she hoped Plunkett’s attitude would change as he began his stay with the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
The judge stated that while Plunkett demonstrated cowardice by stabbing Maher, “the thing you did that’s not an act of cowardice is to take responsibility in this case.”
She then imposed Plunkett’s mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder and nine to ten years in prison for aggravated assault. The charges will be served concurrently.
The charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and misdemeanor theft were dropped as part of the plea deal.
‘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 stated that when parents release children like Plunkett, who has a long history of fights and issues at school, into the community, his office will continue to “hand out life sentences.”
Itzen described Plunkett’s and co-defendant Dominique Harris’ actions on April 7 last year, which were captured on smartphone video by a youth on the scene, as “encircled” their victim.
“What it reminds you of is a pack of wolves hunting down their prey,” Itzen told me.
He mentioned that when Plunkett pulled out his knife, Maher told him to put it away because it wasn’t fair.
Itzen reminded the court about Plunkett’s response.
“I don’t fight fair,” the defendant told Itzen.
Itzen claimed that Plunkett and his co-defendant’s actions altered the character of the Casper community and introduced a level of youth violence that had not previously existed.
He asked the court to consider the Maher family’s loss, their victim impact statements, and the fact that Bobby Maher will be unable to pursue a promising basketball career or purchase his first car due to Plunkett’s actions.
“He wants to be a little gangster and thug and there is no room for that in this community,” Itzen told me.
He asked the judge to impose the life sentence as well as the nine to ten-year sentence for aggravated assault.
‘Tragic situation’
Defense attorney Curtis Cheney described his client’s actions as a “tragic situation for all that are involved” and admitted that he “struggled” to make sense of the case.
Cheney stated that when he first met Plunkett, he took a photo of him, knowing that he had just turned 15 days before the stabbing.
“It was hard for me to see a young person in that situation,” Cheney said, adding that his client has matured and grown since then.
He said his conversations with Plunkett revealed that he misses his family, loves animals, enjoys cooking, and plays the saxophone.
“As I got to know him, he is in many ways a young child,” he informed me.
Cheney stated that Plunkett is interested in school and has experienced “some trauma,” as well as mental health issues and violence in his life. He stated that the pre-sentence report indicates that he also struggles with substance abuse.
Cheney stated that Plunkett “takes issue” with the pre-sentence report regarding his attitude, and that he is “profoundly regretful” and “wishes he had made different choices that day.”
“I have seen growth and change,” Cheney stated. “I believe Mr. Plunkett is redeemable.”
Judge Wilking inquired if Plunkett had anything to say.
“No, ma’am,” he replied.
In addition to his sentence, Plunkett was ordered to pay $11,118 in restitution.
Members of both the Maher and Plunkett families were in the courtroom, but none of them spoke before his sentencing.
Ryan Semerad, the Maher family’s attorney, said they had “no comment” on the sentence.
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.
Harris, Plunkett’s co-defendant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder in a plea agreement with Itzen last month. Charges of aggravated assault and theft will be dropped as part of the agreement. A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered.
Plunkett and Harris confronted Maher’s girlfriend and another friend after they got off a bus in Evansville last April, according to a video played during the case’s preliminary hearing in Casper Circuit Court.
When they told Plunkett he was in Mills, he asked his friend, “You wanna pay his blood debt?”
A Casper police detective also testified that two days before the killing, Plunkett told Harris that he wanted to “gut that dude.”
