Cooper “Chick” Bacon, a 78-year-old maritime captain from New Jersey, has been charged with seaman’s manslaughter in the death of an 81-year-old Connecticut boater.
The collision occurred on September 22, 2015, in Fishers Island Sound, off the coast of Westerly, Rhode Island, when Bacon’s yacht collided with a 23-foot power boat, the Peggy K. The sole occupant of the power boat, Walter S. Krupinski, 81, of Stonington, Conn., was killed in the crash.
Bacon was arraigned on December 6, 2017, in U.S. District Court in Providence, before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan. Through his attorney, Bacon entered a plea of not guilty and was released on $50,000 unsecured bond.
In addition to surrendering his Merchant Marine license, Bacon was ordered to surrender his passport and is prohibited from traveling outside of the United States while awaiting trial.
An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Seaman’s manslaughter is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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