Grinning baby-faced ‘racist,’ 15, gets slap on the wrist sentence for trying to drown black friend in Cape Cod pond
The son of a wealthy ferry mogul was given a slap on the wrist in his sentencing Wednesday after attempting to drown his black ‘friend’ in a pond while hurling racist slurs.
John ‘Jack’ Sheeran, 15, was all smiles as he entered Barnstable Juvenile Court on Cape Cod in a blue suit to face sentencing for repeatedly pushing the black teenager under the water at Goose Pond in Chatham, Massachusetts in July 2023.
But that smile faded once the sentencing kicked off. He was handed a term in a juvenile detention center until he turns 21 – but it was suspended for three years meaning he won’t spend any time behind bar unless he re-offends.
He was also ordered to complete 720 hours of community service.
Judge Sylvia Gomes also ordered Sheeran have no contact with his victim and must write a letter of apology, along with completing two education programs.
Sheeran’s mother Sheila broke down in court before her son was sentenced, and was accompanied by her own lawyer, as well as multiple family members.
The court heard that Sheeran had 15 letters of recommendation and a ‘glowing’ report from probation.
The courtroom also turned into a heated battle between Sheeran’s attorney Kevin Reddington and Judge Sylvia Gomes.
John ‘Jack’ Sheeran, 15, was all smiles as he entered Barnstable Juvenile Court in a blue suit to face sentencing for repeatedly pushing the black teenager under the water at Goose Pond in Chatham, Massachusetts in July 2023
Sheeran walked into the courtroom with his father, who’s also named John, (left) and his attorney Kevin Reddington. During the sentencing he was told by Judge Sylvia Gomes that he couldnt have any contact his victim and had to send him an apology by letter
Reddington went on an explosive rant in the courtroom at the sentencing, blasting Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois, and playing a recording he claimed was of the victim laughing at another boy using a racial slur.
Reddington told the court that Galibois was a ‘puppet master’, and called the incident ‘horseplay’, adding: ‘This case has taken on a life of its own. This young man has been vilified as a racist, and been made fun of and criticized in international press.
‘People were approaching him on the streets calling him a racist – adults – when he is a child.
‘The alleged victim is playing the system. He is playing the DA. This young man knew this kid, took him in.
‘He spent more time in the Sheeran family home than anyone. This young kid will be branded a racist for the rest of his life.
‘I will not refer to this kid as a victim in any sense whatsoever. Branding this young man a racist in this case is just not right.’
Reddington rubbed Sheeran’s shoulders as he spoke, and also referenced a report by forensic psychologist Dr. Paul Zeizel which called the criminal charges against Sheeran a ‘travesty’.
Judge Gomes fought back against Reddington, branding the incident as ‘horrific’ before telling Sheeran he made a ‘poor choice’.
‘There is no politician agenda here,’ she added. ‘I have focused on the young man here who made a horrific mistake.
Sheeran and his father, who’s also named John, aggressively attempted to block reporters from accessing the courthouse
Reddington went on an explosive rant in the courtroom at the sentencing, blasting Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois, and playing a recording he said was the victim laughing at another boy using a racial slur
Sheeran arriving at court where the judge heard that he had 15 letters of recommendation and a ‘glowing’ report from probation
Judge Gomes fought back against Reddington, branding the incident as ‘horrific’ before telling Sheeran he made a ‘poor choice’
Reddington interrupted the judge after she made reference to the victim being called ‘George Floyd’, stating, ‘I want it to be crystal clear he did not say that, the other co-defendant did’
‘Let’s take race out of it, it would still be a horrific set of circumstances. You made a poor choice, you as a human being, to hold anyone underwater for any period of time knowing they can’t swim is horrific.’
Reddington interrupted the judge after she made reference to the victim being called ‘George Floyd’, stating, ‘I want it to be crystal clear he did not say that, the other co-defendant did.’
Judge Gomes shot back that she was aware of the facts, rebutting: ‘What occurred was not acceptable.
‘Taking the racial component out of this it is still a horrific act, and no other human being should have to tolerate it. Mr Sheeran has learned a lot and been through a lot.
‘You made a mistake and you have been held accountable,’ the judge added. ‘This should hopefully not be your defining moment.’
She said that she rejected the doctor’s claim that the situation was a ‘travesty’, before addressing Sheeran directly.
‘I believe you can do this and this isn’t going to be your defining moment in life,’ Gomes said. ‘You will go off and do wonderful things in your life.’
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was lured on Snapchat to the poond by Sheeran and another white boy who initially told him to ride his bike into the water.
Sheeran allegedly threatened to beat the teen up, before calling him a racial slur and ‘boy’. The victim begged Sheeran not to pull him underwater because he ‘didn’t know how to swim and was afraid he would drown’
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was lured on Snapchat to the pond by Sheeran and another white boy who initially told him to ride his bike into the water
In July 2023, Sheeran allegedly attempted to drown a black teen in Goose Pond in Chatham, Massachusetts
After his sentencing, Sheeran walked out of the courtroom with his family with a grin on his face
When he said no because the bike belonged to his brother, Sheeran started throwing stones at the victim who begged to put a life jacket on before entering the water.
He then ‘threatened to beat him up’, before calling him a racial slur and ‘boy’. The victim begged Sheeran not to pull him under the water because he ‘didn’t know how to swim and was afraid he would drown’.
But Sheeran pulled him under water several times, laughing at him as the second boy called the victim ‘George Floyd’, before Sheeran threatened to take his life jacket away from him.
He then asked the victim if he liked his life, with the second boy involved in the incident saying: ‘He can’t once he’s drowning’.
The second boy was dealt with in the juvenile court, and the records were sealed. All three boys were 14 at the time of the incident and have now turned 15.
The victim began screaming for help after Sheeran swam underneath him and started dragging him down by his feet – with the teen calling him a ‘b***’ and a ‘p***y’ for yelling.
Sheeran was already at the Chatham Police Department in regard to another incident where he was suspected of punching an Asian child in the face when he was interviewed by police over the attempted drowning.
The victim did not report the incident until two days later, with Sheeran and his mother refusing to speak to authorities without a lawyer.
Reddington said Sheeran had been vilified by the international media and was unfairly branded a ‘racist’
Sheeran, now 15, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in a Massachusetts courtroom in December 2024
Sheeran had been living with his mother Sheila in Florida for several months prior to the drowning incident
Exclusive DailyMail.com footage shows his father, Jack Senior, aggressively attempting to block reporters from accessing the courthouse.
His son grinned at the exchange as he entered the building, before being brought into the courthouse.
Sheeran has been on 24/7 house arrest at his father’s $1.6million Chatham home since he was bailed in September 2023.
He has also been home-schooled since the incident.
The teen’s parents have been embroiled in a bitter divorce, fighting over their $1.6million Freedom Ferry business – which takes vacationers between Hyannis Port and the island of Nantucket – since the split.
Sheeran had been living with Sheila in Florida for several months prior to the drowning incident.
Divorce documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal that Sheeran and his three sisters were court-ordered to undergo therapy following their parents’ separation.
Filings also state that his mother Sheila, a yoga and spiritual meditation instructor, accused her estranged husband of ‘beating’ their son when he was 12.
The teen’s parents have been embroiled in a bitter divorce, fighting over their $1.6million Freedom Ferry business – which takes vacationers between Hyannis Port and Nantucket
Filings also state that his mother Sheila, a yoga and spiritual meditation instructor, accused her estranged husband of ‘beating’ their son when he was 12
Sheila stated in the documents that his drinking was ‘to excess’ and he was ‘possibly using drugs’ – arguing the kids were unsafe in his care
‘Wife is extremely concerned that husband is drinking alcohol to excess,’ the records stated.
‘Possibly using drugs and has become mentally unstable to the point the children (who do not want to stay with him) are unsafe in his care.’
She even claimed passengers on the ferry could be at risk on days he operated it.
Despite her concerns, Sheeran’s father still appears to be living the high life, moving into a million-dollar house after selling the family home for $4.4million.
The parents’ divorce has not yet been finalized, with the family court postponing the trial until April, awaiting the outcome of Sheeran’s criminal case.
