The captain of the dive boat Conception, which went up in flames while anchored near Santa Cruz Island in 2019, killing 34 people aboard, has been sentenced to 4 years in federal prison, officials announced. Jerry Nehl Boylan, 70, of Santa Barbara, faced justice at the hands of U.S. District Judge George H. Wu despite a defense that pleaded for home confinement citing his age and health, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In November 2023, after a 10-day trial, a jury found Boylan guilty of misconduct or neglect of ship officer, "The defendant’s cowardice and repeated failures caused the horrific deaths of 34 people," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada was quoted in a press release from the Attorney's Office. The tragic event took place during the early hours of September 2, 2019, as the Conception was moored in Platt’s Harbor, and the fire quickly resulted in one of the deadliest maritime disasters in recent U.S. history.
Prosecutors laid out how Boylan's actions, or lack thereof, including failing to have a night watch or roving patrol and neglecting to conduct proper fire drills and crew training, directly contributed to the tragedy. He was also criticized for not offering firefighting instructions after the fire had been detected, and for not attempting rescue operations for those trapped below the deck, the U.S. Attorney's Office detailed.
Officials underlined the gravity of Boylan's neglect. He was the first crew member to abandon ship even though 33 passengers and one crew member were still alive, trapped in the vessel’s bunkroom, "The fate of the victims on the Conception might have been different were it not for the negligence of the defendant," Mehtab Syed, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Boylan's sentencing brings a close to an ordeal that has left families and the maritime community in mourning. A restitution hearing is set for July 11. "I hope this prosecution and sentencing sends a message to other captains and this recklessness is never repeated," said Christopher Bombardiere, special agent in charge of ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division in the press release.
