Current:Home > StocksDive-boat Conception captain found guilty of manslaughter that killed 34-LoTradeCoin
Dive-boat Conception captain found guilty of manslaughter that killed 34
View Date:2024-12-24 00:37:33
LOS ANGELES — A scuba dive boat captain was convicted Monday of criminal negligence in the deaths of 34 people killed in a fire aboard the vessel in 2019, the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history.
Jerry Boylan, 69, was found guilty of one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer following a 10-day trial in federal court in downtown Los Angeles. The charge is a pre-Civil War statute colloquially known as seaman’s manslaughter that was designed to hold steamboat captains and crew responsible for maritime disasters.
Boylan is the only person to face criminal charges connected to the fire. He could get 10 years behind bars when he’s sentenced Feb. 8, though he can appeal. His public defenders declined to comment as they left the courthouse.
The verdict comes more than four years after the Sept. 2, 2019, tragedy, which prompted changes to maritime regulations, congressional reform and several ongoing civil lawsuits.
Relatives of those killed hugged one another and wept outside the courtroom Monday after the verdict was read.
Clark and Kathleen McIlvain, whose son Charles died at age 44, said they were relieved that there is finally some accountability for their loss.
“We are very happy that the world knows that Jerry Boylan was responsible for this and has been found guilty,” Clark McIlvain said.
The families also applauded and cheered outside the courthouse when the federal prosecutors arrived for a news conference to discuss the case.
Relatives of those killed hugged one another and wept outside the courtroom Monday after the verdict was read.
Clark and Kathleen McIlvain, whose son Charles died at age 44, said they were relieved that there is finally some accountability for their loss.
“We are very happy that the world knows that Jerry Boylan was responsible for this and has been found guilty,” Clark McIlvain said.
The families also applauded and cheered outside the courthouse when the federal prosecutors arrived for a news conference to discuss the case.
Although the exact cause of the blaze remains undetermined, the prosecutors and defense sought to assign blame throughout the trial.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Boylan failed to post the required roving night watch and never properly trained his crew in firefighting. The lack of the roving watch meant the fire was able to spread undetected across the 75-foot (23-meter) boat.
Boylan’s attorneys sought to pin blame on boat owner Glen Fritzler, who with his wife owns Truth Aquatics Inc., which operated the Conception and two other scuba dive boats, often around the Channel Islands.
They argued that Fritzler was responsible for failing to train the crew in firefighting and other safety measures, as well as creating a lax seafaring culture they called “the Fritzler way,” in which no captain who worked for him posted a roving watch.
The Fritzlers have not spoken publicly about the tragedy since an interview with a local TV station a few days after the fire. Their attorneys have never responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press, including on Monday.
Kendra Chan, 26, was killed on the Conception, along with her father, Raymond “Scott” Chan, 59. Vicki Moore, who was Raymond’s wife and Kendra’s mother, said Monday that justice was served.
“A strong message came through that if you are captain of a boat, you are truly responsible and there are consequences if you don’t follow the law,” Moore said after the verdict.
While the criminal trial is over, several civil lawsuits remain ongoing.
Three days after the blaze, Truth Aquatics filed suit under a pre-Civil War provision of maritime law that allows it to limit its liability to the value of the remains of the boat, which was a total loss. The time-tested legal maneuver has been successfully employed by the owners of the Titanic and other vessels, and requires the Fritzlers to show they were not at fault.
That case is pending, as well as others filed by victims’ families against the Coast Guard for alleged lax enforcement of the roving watch requirement.
The Channel Islands draw boaters, scuba divers and hikers. Five of the eight Channel Islands comprise the national park and Santa Cruz is the largest within the park at about 96 square miles.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Georgia House Republicans stick with leadership team for the next two years
- Why a portrait artist from Ireland started making comics about U.S. police brutality
- Queen Latifah and Super Mario Bros. make history in National Recording Registry debut
- Selena Gomez's Pre-Flight Beauty Routine Will Influence Your Next Travel Day
- Wisconsin agency issues first round of permits for Enbridge Line 5 reroute around reservation
- Kim Kardashian's SKIMS Presidents' Day Deals: Save Up to 50% On These 25 Top-Selling Styles
- 3 new Star Wars live-action films are coming
- RHONJ Preview: Joe Gorga Slams Luis Ruelas Over Teresa Giudice's Wedding Snub
- COINIXIAI Introduce
- Settle in for the spy-show pleasures of 'The Night Agent'
Ranking
- Climate Advocacy Groups Say They’re Ready for Trump 2.0
- Shop These 28 Top-Selling Lululemon Styles at Great Prices on Presidents' Day 2023
- RHONJ Preview: Joe Gorga Slams Luis Ruelas Over Teresa Giudice's Wedding Snub
- How these art sleuths reunited a family after centuries apart
- Nicky Hilton Shares Her Christmas Plans With Paris, the Secret To Perfect Skin & More Holiday Gift Picks
- 'Beef' is about anger, emptiness, and the meaning of life
- La pregunta que llevó a una mujer a crear el primer archivo de reguetón puertorriqueño
- Netflix delayed the live reunion of 'Love is Blind,' but didn't say why
Recommendation
-
AIT Community Introduce
-
Queen Latifah and Super Mario Bros. make history in National Recording Registry debut
-
In 'The Teachers,' passion motivates, even as conditions grow worse for educators
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Rep Slams Speculation They Plan to Sue Over South Park Episode
-
Tua Tagovailoa tackle: Dolphins QB laughs off taking knee to head vs. Rams on 'MNF'
-
If you want to up your yogurt game, this Iranian cookbook will show you the whey
-
Louis Tomlinson Holds Hands With Model Sofie Nyvang After Eleanor Calder Breakup
-
Jake Bongiovi Calls Millie Bobby Brown the Girl of My Dreams in Golden Birthday Message