The Navy notified Ryan Mays on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, that he was to be tried in military court on two counts for the July 2020 blaze that injured dozens of personnel aboard. – A sailor accused of starting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard will face a court martial for arson, the Navy said Friday.
Mays set the fire because he was disgruntled after dropping out of Navy SEAL training, prosecutors said. His defense lawyers said there was no physical evidence connecting him to the blaze.Defense lawyer Gary Barthel said the decision to proceed to trial came despite a hearing officer's recommendation that there wasn't enough evidence to win a conviction after a preliminary hearing in December.
The lead federal fire investigator for the government determined the fire was started July 12, 2020, by someone who ignited carboard boxes in a vehicle storage area below deck. The defense presented evidence from experts that the blaze may have been sparked by an electrical malfunction. The 840-foot vessel had been docked at Naval Base San Diego while undergoing a two-year, $250 million upgrade.A report found that while the fire was intentionally set, an inadequately prepared crew failed to extinguish the blaze and three of four fire stations appeared to have been tampered with. Hoses had been disconnected and one was cut, according to court documents.
Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sailor facing court martial in fire that destroyed Navy shipA sailor accused of starting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard will face a court martial for arson.
Source: latimes - 🏆 11. / 82 Read more »
Sailor facing court martial in fire that destroyed Navy shipNEW: A sailor accused of starting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard will face a court martial for arson, according to charges filed Friday.
Source: KPBSnews - 🏆 240. / 63 Read more »
Source: ReutersScience - 🏆 559. / 51 Read more »