Teen pleads guilty, sentenced in attack on Hispanic day laborer

<p>A former high school student has pleaded guilty for his role in an attack on a Hispanic day laborer last year.</p><p>Chad Whetherington, 18, of Waleska has pleaded guilty July 14 to false imprisonment and robbery. He was given a 10-year sentence but will serve three with credit for time served.</p><p>Authorities said Whetherington was among a group of white teens who targeted Hispanic laborers, who often carry large amounts of cash and speak little English.</p><p>Whetherington participated in the first of two February 2004 attacks by Cherokee High School students on day laborers, according to the Canton Police Department. The suspects told police the men were attacked for their money and denied a racial motivation, despite allegations some of them talked at school about going to "beat up some Mexicans."</p><p>Whetherington is the latest of the teens to be sentenced in the attacks.</p><p>Last year, Devan Wheeling, 19, was sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty to armed robbery, aggravated assault and false imprisonment charges for his role in both February incidents as well as in a similar incident in November 2003.</p><p>Josh Oberly, 18, and Bryan Phillips, 20, pleaded guilty to robbery and aggravated assault for their roles in the November 2003 case. Each was sentenced to six months to serve and 10 years probation.</p><p>A juvenile, whose name was not released, pleaded guilty to two counts each of party to the crime of armed robbery, aggravated assault and false imprisonment last year. He was sentenced to four years in juvenile detention for his role in the February attacks.</p><p>Ben Cagle and Kenneth Beavers were arrested on lesser charges of being party to the crimes.</p><p>The muggings raised questions about whether there are deeper rifts in the area between the white majority and a largely undocumented Hispanic day laborer population. Some speculated there may have been other beatings of Hispanics that went unreported because the victims feared repercussions if they came forward.</p>