A scuba dive boat captain has been ordered to pay approximately $32,000 in restitution to the families of three of the 34 people who tragically lost their lives in a fire aboard the Conception vessel in 2019. The incident, which occurred off the central California coast on September 2, 2019, marked the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history.
The captain, Jerry Boylan, was found guilty of criminal negligence as the captain of the Conception, leading to the fatal incident. Boylan was convicted of misconduct or neglect of a ship officer and sentenced to four years in prison, along with three years of supervised release. In addition to his prison sentence, Boylan has been ordered to pay restitution to the families of the victims.
The restitution order granted payments to three families who submitted documentation for funeral expenses totaling $32,178.82. However, several other claims for restitution, including psychological counseling, lost income, travel expenses, and legal fees, were not approved.
Despite the restitution order, Boylan's attorney argued that he had no significant assets and would not be able to pay. Prosecutors, on the other hand, claimed that Boylan had assets totaling six figures and that a restitution order would hold him accountable if he ever acquired funds.
The tragic incident on the Conception claimed the lives of 33 passengers and a crew member, with only a few survivors. Prosecutors attributed the high death toll to Boylan's failure to post a required roving night watch and adequately train the crew in firefighting procedures.
Victims' families are currently involved in civil lawsuits against the boat owner and the Coast Guard for alleged lax enforcement of safety regulations. The exact cause of the fire that engulfed the Conception remains undetermined, leaving families seeking closure and justice for their lost loved ones.
