News

Lobster Boat Captain Charged in Crew Deaths to Plead Guilty

Lobster Boat Captain Charged in Crew Deaths to Plead Guilty

Photo: clipart.com


PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A lobster boat captain charged in the death of two crew members is pleading guilty and facing four years in jail.

Christopher Hutchinson of Cushing was skipper of the boat when it flipped in heavy waves, killing Tomas Hammond and Tyler Sawyer in 2014 west of Matinicus. Prosecutors said Hutchinson had been using alcohol and drugs before taking the boat out.

Federal court papers indicate the 30-year-old Hutchinson will plead guilty later this month to two charges of seaman’s manslaughter. The crime carries a prison term of up to 10 years. Court papers say parties have agreed to a four-year sentence followed by three years of supervised released.

Hutchinson’s attorney, Michael Turndorf, says parties in the case have “reached a number that we believe in an appropriate resolution.”

Latest Headlines

4 minutes ago in Local

New report suggests Maine already/will soon be in a recession

Fresh

Credit rating company Moody's reports that the current economic problems are driven largely by a mixture of slowing immigration, increasing tariffs, and federal job cuts.

13 hours ago in Local

Biddeford man charged with manslaughter in death of 5-week-old

Police have arrested a man charged in the killing of an infant in Biddeford last year.

18 hours ago in Local

Deputies seeking teenager reported missing in Pownal

Police are looking for a teenager who may have run away from her home in Pownal.

22 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Judge tosses out Drake’s defamation lawsuit against label over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’

A defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group was tossed out Thursday by a federal judge who said the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar's dis track "Not Like Us" were opinion.

1 day ago in Local

Cell Phone Fire Sends Firefighters to South Berwick School

The phone was immediately taken outside, where it eventually cooled down.