US Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that a 30-year-old man from Cushing, Maine was sentenced in US District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for Seaman’s Manslaughter for causing the death of two crewmen who were then 26 and 15 years old. The man pleaded guilty on September 25, 2018.
According to court records, on November 1, 2014, after smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, the 30-year-old took his lobster boat out into a predicted storm with two crewmen aboard. After he had ingested oxycodone, the boat capsized.
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The two crewmen were not wearing personal floatation devices or survival suits. The boat’s Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alerted at about 1:20 p.m. and the USCG rescued the man at about 4 p.m.
An hour later, the US Coast Guard located the bow of the boat, with no signs of life. The bodies of the two crewmen were never found and are presumed dead.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Hornby said:
The case was a heartbreaking tragedy. Two young men lost their lives. One of those leaves a young son who is now fatherless. Many parents are grieving
Commenting on the case, US Attorney Frank, mentioned that the defendant was the captain of the boat and was responsible for the safety of his crew. However, he did not live up to his responsibility, and he engaged in risky, reckless behavior that cost the lives of two young men.
The US Coast Guard carried out the investigation.
