Teen faces 5 years in boating death

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Barrington teen accused in the boating collision that killed another teen pleaded no contest to a reckless boating charge in Providence Superior Court Monday morning.

Ryan Greenberg faces up to five years in state prison when he is sentenced July 22.

He  had been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Patrick Murphy, 17. However, that charged was dismissed as part of the plea agreement announced earlier this month. The case was set to go to trial may 26.

“With today’s plea, I am hopeful that we have heard the last of Patrick Murphy’s death being described as an accident and that it is recognized that Patrick Murphy died as the result of Ryan Greenberg’s criminal conduct," said Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch. "Our focus now is on sentencing, and on ensuring that to the degree it can, our legal system provides some measure of justice to the Murphy family, to whom I continue to offer my prayers and deepest condolences.”

Murphy died July 17, 2007 on the Barrington River. He was kneeboarding behind a boat driven by Greenberg, when he was struck and killed.

During a pervious court hearing, another teen who was on board the boat at the time, testified that Greenberg pushed the throttle toward Murphy and did not steer away.