Christopher A. Hutchinson, Seaman’s Manslaughter, Maine 2014

State: Maine
Category: Violent Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/cushing-man-pleads-guilty-seaman-s-manslaughter" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Cushing Man Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison for Seaman’s Manslaughter

Bangor, ME – In a shocking turn of events, 30-year-old Christopher A. Hutchinson of Cushing, Maine has pleaded guilty to two counts of Seaman’s Manslaughter for causing two deaths at sea.

According to court records, on November 1, 2014, Hutchinson took his lobster boat, No Limits, out into a predicted storm with two crewmen aboard after ingesting marijuana and drinking.

As the situation worsened, Hutchinson took oxycodone, which further impaired his judgment. The boat capsized, resulting in the tragic loss of the two crewmen who were not wearing personal floatation devices or survival suits.

The Coast Guard received an alert from the No Limits’ Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon at 1:20 p.m. and rescued Hutchinson four hours later. At the time of his rescue, he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. The bow of the No Limits was located by the Coast Guard at 5 p.m., but the bodies of the crewmen have never been recovered.

Hutchinson faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine on each count. A plea agreement has been reached, recommending a sentence of four years in prison and three years of supervised release. If the court rejects this sentence, Hutchinson will be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea.

The investigation into this tragic incident was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced the guilty plea, bringing closure to the families of the victims.

Hutchinson will be sentenced after a presentence investigation report is completed by the U.S. Probation Office. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety at sea and the consequences of reckless behavior.

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