LOS ANGELES – (INT) - The captain of the Santa Barbara-based dive boat that caught fire last year near Santa Cruz Island, resulting in the deaths of 33 passengers and one crew member, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on 34 counts of seaman’s manslaughter.

Jerry Nehl Boylan, 67, of Santa Barbara, was named in the indictment returned by a federal grand jury. It alleges Boylan, as the captain and master of the vessel, “was responsible for the safety and security of the vessel, its crew, and its passengers.”

The indictment alleges that Boylan caused the deaths “by his misconduct, negligence, and inattention to his duties.”

Boylan was expected to self-surrender to federal authorities in the coming weeks.

Story Date: December 8, 2020