Navy charges sailor in connection with USS Bonhomme Richard fire that destroyed warship

[Kyle]

The sailor was a member of the ship's crew, the Navy said

The Navy has charged a sailor in connection with the massive fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard warship over four days in 2020 while docked off San Diego, a naval spokesman said Thursday.

The unidentified sailor was a member of the ship's crew and is accused of starting the July 12, 2020 blaze, the Navy said. The charges are based on evidence collected during an investigation, Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Sean Robertson, said in a statement.

"Evidence collected during the investigation is sufficient to direct a preliminary hearing in accordance with due process under the military justice system," Robertson said.

Navy charges sailor in connection with USS Bonhomme Richard fire that destroyed warship

The Navy has charged a sailor in connection with the massive fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard warship over four days in 2020 while docked off San Diego, a naval spokesman said Thursday.

www.foxnews.com

Still don't identify him, huh.

I'm guessing theres' quite a bit of phlegm and at least a "mo" in the pronunciation of his name.

 

[Hijinx]

The sailor was a member of the ship's crew, the Navy said

The Navy has charged a sailor in connection with the massive fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard warship over four days in 2020 while docked off San Diego, a naval spokesman said Thursday.

The unidentified sailor was a member of the ship's crew and is accused of starting the July 12, 2020 blaze, the Navy said. The charges are based on evidence collected during an investigation, Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Sean Robertson, said in a statement.

"Evidence collected during the investigation is sufficient to direct a preliminary hearing in accordance with due process under the military justice system," Robertson said.

Navy charges sailor in connection with USS Bonhomme Richard fire that destroyed warship

The Navy has charged a sailor in connection with the massive fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard warship over four days in 2020 while docked off San Diego, a naval spokesman said Thursday.

www.foxnews.com

Still don't identify him, huh.

I'm guessing theres' quite a bit of phlegm and at least a "mo" in the pronunciation of his name.

If he is charged what is the reason for not releasing his name and other information?
He is an adult isn't he?

 

[Smokey1]

If he is charged what is the reason for not releasing his name and other information?
He is an adult isn't he?

Probably a member of a protected group.

 

[GURPS]

Saracen

 

[Yooper]

If it is true, that the investigation is still in the Article 32 phase, it would be sensible to keep the sailor's identity unknown. Yes, the sailor was charged, but no, (s)he hasn't been arrested. The "charge sheet" (hence, "charged") gets reviewed during the Article 32 process and then is forwarded to the General Courts-Martial (GCM) convening authority for a decision as to whether to proceed to GCM (or not). If yes, then I guess the sailor would be arrested and then I'm guessing the name would be released. I'd be curious as to any lawyers here on the forum with experience in the UCMJ as I don't ever recall names being released until after the Article 32 was completed....

What I find interesting about this story is at the bottom of the story I linked to below:

The emails also revealed that several other smaller fires broke out aboard three other San Diego-based ships in the 15 months leading up to the fire that eventually saw the Bonhomme Richard scrapped: a March 2019 fire on the USS Boxer (LHD-4) Wasp-class amphibious assault ship; one aboard the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Champion (MCM-4) in November 2019; and a March 2020 fire on the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49), the lead ship of the Harpers Ferry class of dock landing ships. It’s unknown if the suspect in the Bonhomme Richard fire was in any way involved with those other fires.

Go here:

Navy Formally Accuses Sailor Of Starting The Fire That Destroyed The USS Bonhomme Richard

The Navy has confirmed it believes the fire, which lasted for four days and burned so hot it warped the ship's flight deck, was deliberately set.

www.thedrive.com

--- End of line (MCP)

 

[Gilligan]

What I find interesting about this story is at the bottom of the story I linked to below:


Go here:

Navy Formally Accuses Sailor Of Starting The Fire That Destroyed The USS Bonhomme Richard

The Navy has confirmed it believes the fire, which lasted for four days and burned so hot it warped the ship's flight deck, was deliberately set.

www.thedrive.com

--- End of line (MCP)

Working in that industry, as I do, the number of fires caused by improperly managed "hot work" has always been a problem. It seems to have gotten worse in recent years, but I'm not sure if that's because of an actual increase in the number of incidents, or it's simply an increase in the number reported.

 

[black dog]

Working in that industry, as I do, the number of fires caused by improperly managed "hot work" has always been a problem. It seems to have gotten worse in recent years, but I'm not sure if that's because of an actual increase in the number of incidents, or it's simply an increase in the number reported.

Yep... Same with doing modernizations in buildings.
Think courthouse in Upper Marboro a few years back.

 

[GURPS]

USS Bonhomme Richard fire suspect hated Navy, dropped out of SEAL training, documents say


The Navy has not publicly identified Mays as the sailor accused of setting the blaze. He became known to investigators after they interviewed 177 sailors assigned to the ship. One sailor said he saw a "light-skin male" in clean overalls and a facemask carrying a bucket of water to the "Lower V" but didn’t recognize the person.

In another interview, a sailor identified as Kenji Velasco mentioned Mays and said he "'hates' the U.S. Navy and the Fleet," according to the affidavit.
"Velasco further explained that in the hours and days after the fire, it had dawned on him that the individual who descended to the Lower V at 0805 on the day of the fire was Mays’s height and build, had fair hair that could be seen coming out from his cover, like Mays, sounded like Mays, and said, ‘I love deck,’ which is an expression Velasco knew MAYS to say," the filing states.

"Velasco further explained that after the fire on the BHR he was attending a muster at the base theater, when he asked Mays if he had gone to the Lower V before the fire started. According to Velasco, Mays replied, 'Yes.'"

 

[Hijinx]

USS Bonhomme Richard fire suspect hated Navy, dropped out of SEAL training, documents say


The Navy has not publicly identified Mays as the sailor accused of setting the blaze. He became known to investigators after they interviewed 177 sailors assigned to the ship. One sailor said he saw a "light-skin male" in clean overalls and a facemask carrying a bucket of water to the "Lower V" but didn’t recognize the person.

In another interview, a sailor identified as Kenji Velasco mentioned Mays and said he "'hates' the U.S. Navy and the Fleet," according to the affidavit.
"Velasco further explained that in the hours and days after the fire, it had dawned on him that the individual who descended to the Lower V at 0805 on the day of the fire was Mays’s height and build, had fair hair that could be seen coming out from his cover, like Mays, sounded like Mays, and said, ‘I love deck,’ which is an expression Velasco knew MAYS to say," the filing states.

"Velasco further explained that after the fire on the BHR he was attending a muster at the base theater, when he asked Mays if he had gone to the Lower V before the fire started. According to Velasco, Mays replied, 'Yes.'"

I hope they have something as proof that is stronger than that.

 

[Monello]

The ghost of Clayton Hartwig wants everyone to slow down on the condemnation of the initial perpetrator.