LOS ANGELES, CA – A Santa Barbara man was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison today for his role in the 2019 Labor Day tragedy that claimed the lives of 34 people aboard the dive boat P/V Conception. Jerry Nehl Boylan, 70, was found guilty in November 2023 of one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer – commonly known as “seaman’s manslaughter” – following a ten-day trial. The fire, which erupted in the early hours of September 2, 2019, trapped passengers and one crew member below deck as the vessel sank near Santa Cruz Island.
The 75-foot Conception, a wood-and-fiberglass passenger vessel, was anchored in Platt’s Harbor when the blaze ignited. Boylan, as captain, was responsible for the safety of the 33 passengers and six crew members on board. Prosecutors detailed a litany of failures that contributed to the catastrophic loss of life, painting a picture of a captain who prioritized self-preservation over the lives entrusted to his care. Five crew members, including Boylan, managed to escape, leaving 34 souls to perish.
“The defendant’s cowardice and repeated failures caused the horrific deaths of 34 people,” stated U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “The victims’ families will be forever devastated by this needless tragedy. While today’s sentence cannot fully heal their wounds, we hope that our efforts to hold this defendant criminally accountable brings some measure of healing to the families.” The evidence presented at trial revealed Boylan neglected basic safety protocols, creating a tinderbox environment ripe for disaster.
Prosecutors argued Boylan failed to maintain adequate safety measures, including a night watch or roving patrol, sufficient fire drills, and crew training. He allegedly failed to provide firefighting instructions, utilize available equipment like a fire ax and extinguisher, or even attempt to warn passengers via the boat’s public address system. Most damningly, Boylan was accused of becoming the first crew member to abandon ship while 33 passengers and one crew member were still trapped and in need of rescue. The defense attempted to argue the fire was accidental, but the jury clearly saw through that defense, concluding Boylan’s negligence was a direct cause of the deaths.
Mehtab Syed, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, stated, “The fate of the victims on the Conception might have been different were it not for the negligence of the defendant.” The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI and the Coast Guard Investigative Service, uncovered a pattern of disregard for safety regulations. Coast Guard Investigative Service Director Jeremy Gauthier added, “There are no winners when lives are lost at sea, but there is justice in bringing those accountable to answer for their crimes.”
A restitution hearing is scheduled for July 11, where the court will determine the financial compensation owed to the victims’ families. While a four-year prison sentence offers a small degree of closure, it does little to fill the void left by the 34 lives lost on that tragic Labor Day. The case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of safety protocols and responsible leadership at sea, and the devastating consequences of negligence.
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