In a tragic case that has gripped Wyoming, a 17-year-old has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his involvement in the murder of a 14-year-old boy. The incident, which saw the young victim trying to protect his girlfriend, ended with him being held down and fatally stabbed in front of witnesses.

On Thursday, Dominique Antonio Richard Harris faced Natrona County District Judge Kerri Johnson, who imposed a prison sentence ranging from 40 to 75 years for his role in the 2024 killing of Bobby Maher Jr., as reported by Oil City News. The sentencing follows a plea agreement that reduced Harris’s charges from conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and theft to a lesser offense, crediting him for 691 days already served.

The co-defendant in this harrowing case, Jarreth Joseflee Sebastian Plunkett, also 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in May and was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, under Wyoming’s legal provisions, minors convicted of murder can seek parole after completing 25 years of their sentence, offering a glimmer of potential future freedom.

During the sentencing hearing, Harris expressed remorse for his actions, admitting to his part in the fatal attack on Maher. As reported by Cowboy State Daily, he told the court, “I regret every decision I made on April 7, [2024], and I wish I could change it, but I cannot.” He further shared that he has found solace in faith, saying, “I have found God and he has shown me how to walk in peace. . . I do take accountability for the part I played.”

This case highlights the devastating consequences of youth violence and the complex legal issues surrounding minors involved in serious crimes. The community continues to grapple with the loss of a young life and the impact on all those involved.

“I regret every decision I made on April 7, [2024], and I wish I could change it, but I cannot,” he reportedly told the court. “I have found God and he has shown me how to walk in peace. . . I do take accountability for the part I played.”

But the judge reiterated that while Plunkett dealt the fatal blows, “it wasn’t until Harris went in from behind and slammed [Maher] down” that the scene turned deadly.

“Mr. Harris knew that Mr. Plunkett had a knife,” Johnson reportedly said, before addressing Harris directly. “You knew he was going to be at the mall and hoped he would be at the mall.”

Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen echoed the judge’s sentiment about Harris being the individual who made the attack possible.

“The defendant’s role was to be the enforcer,” Itzen argued. “To pick him up and do a body slam — Bobby Maher paid the blood debt with his life.”

Harris’ defense attorney continued to maintain his client was not aware that Plunkett planned to kill Maher.

As Law&Crime previously reported, Harris and Plunkett had been in a confrontation with Maher at a local park about two weeks before the fatal stabbing.

Two days before the murder, the defendants encountered Maher’s girlfriend and Maher’s friend, during which Plunkett reportedly asked the friend if he “wanted to pay Bobby’s blood debt.” Plunkett also said he was going to “gut that dude,” referring to Maher, Oil City News reported.

On the day of the murder, Harris and Plunkett had been playing hide-and-seek in a Best Buy in the Eastridge Mall in Casper, Wyoming, according to an affidavit obtained by local K2 Radio.

After the game, the two teens decided to steal knives from a store. Later, they came into contact with Maher’s girlfriend and began following her. She contacted Maher, who went to the mall to make sure she was safe.

When the defendants saw Maher leaving a Dick’s Sporting Goods, violence erupted.

The verbal altercation began outside the sporting goods store, and a large group of people quickly assembled to watch.

Eventually, the assailants flanked the boy, the affidavit said. 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 afterward, police said.

“Dominique [Harris] is seen holding (Maher) while Jarreth [Plunkett] jumped in,” police wrote in a probable cause affidavit — referring to a cellphone video. “Dominique appeared to strike (Maher) in the face, while [Plunkett] is observed swinging the knife in a downward motion, stabbing (Maher) twice.”

Footage of the attack played during a prior court appearance showed Maher being stabbed before getting to his feet, taking a few steps toward the mall, and then collapsing.

Harris previously admitted to holding Maher down, but told police he was only doing it “to make sure the fight was over.”