California – The captain of a dive boat that caught fire and sank off the California coast in 2019, resulting in the deaths of 34 people on board in one of the state’s deadliest maritime disasters, was found guilty on Monday of involuntary manslaughter in California.
Seventy-year-old Jerry Boylan received his sentence from a jury in the United States District Court in Los Angeles for a single count of “misconduct or negligence of a ship officer” under a federal law dating back to steamship accidents in the early 19th century.
The felony conviction, which concludes a 10-day trial, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to Thom Mrozek, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. Sentencing is scheduled for February 8. Boylan remains out on a $75,000 bond.
He was the captain of the 75-foot dive boat Conception when the vessel caught fire in the early morning hours of September 2, 2019, while anchored in Platt’s Harbor near Santa Cruz Island, off the coast of Santa Barbara, during a recreational diving trip.
Thirty-three passengers and one crew member died in the Labor Day weekend blaze. They had been sleeping in a bunk room below deck when the fire broke out.
Prosecutors alleged that Boylan failed to maintain a night watch or roving patrol as required, did not conduct sufficient fire drills or emergency training for the crew, and abandoned the vessel without attempting to fight the fire or rescue passengers, despite not being injured.
Defense attorneys blamed the boat’s owner for not insisting on nighttime patrols or fire training by captains or crews in his fleet.
While federal investigators were unable to pinpoint precisely what sparked the fire, they recommended limiting the presence of lithium-ion batteries and chargers aboard passenger vessels. Following the disaster, the Coast Guard issued a safety bulletin urging adherence to these preventive measures.
The case has brought to light the importance of safety at sea and has prompted a renewed awareness of fire prevention protocols and emergency procedures on passenger vessels.
Sadly, boating accidents are a concern in California. The negligence-related deaths of these individuals have not gone unpunished, yet the families of these victims continue to seek justice.
If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, remember that you have the right to seek justice. Farahi Law Firm can provide you with the guidance and resources needed to build a strong case and obtain the compensation you deserve.
