The captain of the scuba diving boat, the Conception, has been sentenced to four years in prison for criminal negligence. This comes nearly five years after the tragic fire that claimed the lives of 34 people off the California coast.
According to prosecutors, Boylan did not make any effort to combat the fire using the extinguishers available on board. Furthermore, they claim that he neglected his duties as a captain.
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According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the primary concern revolves around the responsibilities held by the defendant as the captain.
According to CBS News, defense lawyers have argued that Boylan remained on board the Conception long enough to make a distress call to the U.S. Coast Guard. They claim that he only left the vessel when he believed that he would not survive if he stayed any longer.
During the incident, all six crew members were asleep, leading the prosecutors to highlight the lack of a night watchman by Boylan. This absence allowed the fire to spread unnoticed throughout the vessel. Survivors stated that the boat’s smoke alarms did not sound, as mentioned in court documents.
According to the prosecution’s sentencing papers, the defendant has not shown any remorse or taken any accountability for the horrific act he committed.
The cause of the fire on the Conception, which was fully engulfed in flames when rescue crews arrived an hour after the distress call, was never determined by federal investigators. Tragically, all 34 individuals on board lost their lives.
According to court documents, there was speculation that the fire could have been caused by lithium-ion batteries.
