A white 15-year-old teenager accused of trying to drown a Black boy in Goose Pond in Chatham in 2023 has pleaded guilty, according to the clerk of Barnstable Juvenile Court.
John P. Sheeran, 15, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing will take place on February 5th. He was charged as a “youthful offender,” which allows the judge to sentence him as a juvenile or an adult.
Prosecutors and Sheeran's lawyers were not immediately available for comment.
The Times does not normally publish the names of juveniles accused of crimes, but the case is public because of the seriousness of the charges. The case will remain public due to Sheeran's status as a “youthful offender” and will be heard in juvenile court, the spokeswoman previously told the Times.
Sheeran is said to have repeatedly pushed the black teenager underwater, hurled racial insults and thrown rocks at him while he was swimming in Goose Pond on July 19. The attack was racially motivated, Cape and Island District Attorney Robert Galibois previously said.
Another boy is accused of also molesting the black teenager. The name of the other boy, who is white, was redacted from court documents reviewed by the Times. He is being charged as a juvenile.
After the black teen began screaming for help, a person on the beach intervened and helped the teen back to shore, a police report said.
Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.
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This article originally appeared in the Cape Cod Times: White teen pleads guilty to attacking Black teen at Chatham Pond in 2023