Chatham Teen Pleads Guilty In Goose Pond Racial Incident

BARNSTABLE – The 15-year-old Chatham teen charged in connection with an alleged racially motivated drowning attempt at Goose Pond in Chatham in July 2023 pleaded guilty last week in Barnstable Juvenile Court.

 The Chatham teen, who is not being named because of his age, is one of two being charged in connection with the incident. He is being charged as a “youthful offender,” meaning he could be sentenced as an adult despite his age. The other teen is being charged separately as a juvenile.

It is alleged that the teens, who are white, threw stones at and repeatedly attempted to drown another 15-year-old, who is Black. The teens also allegedly called the victim “boy” and “George Floyd” and directed other racial slurs at him. 

 In September 2023, the Chatham teen pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon during his arraignment in Barnstable Superior Court. The case has since been directed back to juvenile court.

 Assistant District Attorney Eileen Moriarty said that `on the afternoon of July 19, 2023, the alleged victim arrived at the pond by bike to meet up with the two white teens. When he arrived, the teens began throwing stones at him, Moriarty said.

 “The victim then put a lifejacket on and went into the pond,” she said. The teens continued to threaten and throw stones at the victim upon his entering the water, Moriarty said, leading the victim to himself pick up a stone in self defense.

 The white teens followed the victim into deeper water with a raft, and the Chatham teen attempted to pull the victim underwater “four to five times,” according to Moriarty’s report, causing him to repeatedly shout that he could not breathe. Moriarty said the victim was coughing, was lightheaded, and almost threw up from being pulled at by the Chatham teen.

At this time, the other teen reportedly laughed and called the victim “George Floyd,” referring to the Black man killed by Minneapolis police in May 2020. The Chatham teen allegedly tried to take the victim’s lifejacket away and reportedly asked the victim if he “liked his life.”

“To which he responded ‘I can’t if I’m drowning,’” Moriarty said.

Moriarty said the activity continued until a bystander on shore entered the pond to assist the victim.

 The case was set to go to trial in March, but the Chatham teen changed his plea to guilty to both charges in juvenile court on Dec. 13. The tender of plea filed with the court calls for a three-year suspended sentence for the attempted murder charge, as well as 20 hours of monthly community service, a letter of apology to the alleged victim and conditions that he continue therapy and complete an “educational program” for the assault charge. The plea also stipulates that the teen should not have any contact with the victim.

Matthew Kelly, who represented the teen last week alongside Attorney Kevin Reddington, said that the plea represents “a joint recommendation” from both the defense and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office. The plea also has the support of the family of the alleged victim, Assistant District Attorney Eileen Moriarty said. 

 “But I want to make sure that you understand that I am not bound by this joint recommendation, and I may impose any sentence provided for by law,” Juvenile Court Judge Sylvia Gomes said. She said if the sentence handed down to the teen is greater than what was agreed upon in the plea deal, the teen can withdraw his plea and proceed with the spring trial.

 A pre-sentencing report is due to be filed in juvenile court by Jan. 31, and sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 5. 

 Following the Dec. 13 hearing, Kelly declined to comment further on the case ahead of the submission of the pre-sentencing report.