Hearing held for sailor charged with burning US warship
Source: Associated Press
Hearing held for sailor charged with burning US warship
By JULIE WATSON
December 14, 2021
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Navy prosecutors alleged that a sailor charged with setting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard last year was “disgruntled” after dropping out of Navy SEAL training, while his defense lawyers said there was no physical evidence connecting him to the blaze.
Prosecutor Cmdr. Richard Federico told the court Monday that text messages show Seaman Apprentice Ryan Sawyer Mays lied to family, friends and investigators about why he left SEAL training and that he was angry about being reassigned to the Bonhomme Richard. They also said he used foul language with a superior days before the blaze.
Mays denied igniting the amphibious assault ship that burned for nearly five days and injured dozens aboard.
Defense attorneys said fellow sailors considered Mays “arrogant” because he had come from SEAL training. They disputed that Mays hated the Navy more than any other sailor assigned to deck duty like he was, which involves cleaning the ship.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/fires-san-diego-9270405057c429e5074dba269c31fb50
Navy Seaman Apprentice Ryan Sawyer Mays arrives for a hearing at Naval Base San Diego Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in San Diego. The Navy is set to hold a hearing to review whether there is enough evidence to order a court martial for a San Diego-based sailor charged with setting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard in the summer of 2020. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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