• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Sailor to be court-martialed after arson destroys $4 billion ship

Seaman Recruit Ryan Mays faces court martial on multiple charges

Ryan Mays

USS Bonhomme Richard was destroyed by arson in 2020. (YouTube)

February 25, 2022
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

SAN DIEGO – A sailor accused of arson in a massive fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard will face a court martial for the crime that also left several servicemembers injured, the U.S. Navy said Friday.

Seaman Recruit Ryan Mays, 20, faces two charges — aggravated arson and the willful hazarding of a vessel — in military court for the July 2020 blaze that injured dozens of personnel aboard the ship, KTLA reported.

The USS Bonhomme Richard is an amphibious assault ship. After the flames spread, it burned for five days and sent pungent smoke drifting over San Diego.

During the days-long blaze, at least 40 sailors and 23 civilians were injured, according to the BBC.

Damage from the arson marked one of the worst noncombat warship disasters in recent memory. Consequently, the $4 billion (replacement value) USS Bonhomme Richard had to be scrapped.

“Evidence collected during the investigation is sufficient to direct a preliminary hearing in accordance with due process under the military justice system,” Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Sean Robertson said about a year after the destruction occurred.

Ryan Mays
Seaman Recruit Ryan Mays (NCIS)

Prosecutors say Mays set the fire because he was disgruntled after dropping out of Navy SEAL training, KTLA reported.

However, Mays’ defense attorneys say there is no physical evidence connecting him to the inferno.

According to defense lawyer Gary Barthel, the decision to proceed to trial was made despite a hearing officer’s recommendation that there wasn’t enough evidence to win a conviction following a preliminary hearing in December.

“In our perspective it’s that the Navy’s not looking for justice in this case,” Barthel said. “What the Navy’s looking for is to make Mays a scapegoat.”

Barthel said Mays is discouraged by the decision. He maintains his innocence and looks forward to facts coming out at trial.

During December’s hearing a witness placed Mays in the area where the fire developed aboard the ship. Another witness said he later made an incriminatory statement.

“I’m guilty, I guess. I did it,” Mays mumbled as he was being led to the brig in August 2020, Sailor Carissa Tubman testified. Mays then said: “It had to be done.”

His attorney said he was being sarcastic as he was being locked up, KTLA reported.

The Navy commissioned the USS Bonhomme Richard on August 15, 1998.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: navyRyan MaysU.S. NavyUSS Bonhomme Richard
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Navy SEALs

First Liberty Secures Important First Win in Federal Court for U.S. Navy SEALs

January 7, 2022
Veterans Day

Saluting our military veterans

November 10, 2021
anchors

Anchors away!

August 10, 2021
Navy vetern

Shooter in snow-shoveling murder-suicide was a decorated Navy veteran

February 6, 2021
military suicide

Military suicides spike 20% during coronavirus era

September 27, 2020
roaring approval

Fired Navy skipper leaves ship to roaring approval of crew members

April 3, 2020
Load More

Latest Articles

SCORPION Unit allegedly had history of violence, poor training, and lacked supervision

January 28, 2023
Chicago officer ambushed

America is hemorrhaging from the heart, but there is a solution

January 28, 2023
Colinford Mattis

Ivy League-educated attorney who helped firebomb NYPD patrol car during riots sentenced to prison

January 28, 2023
Mohamed Ali Elmi

Major drug dealer busted with over 65,000 fentanyl pills in Twin Cities

January 28, 2023
Los Angeles

Police search for gunman after 3 killed, 4 critically wounded in Los Angeles shooting

January 28, 2023
Bahram Hojreh

California water polo coach sentenced to 18 years in prison for sexually assaulting nine teenage athletes

January 28, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com