The four U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) petty officers involved in a boat crash that killed an 8-year-old bystander late last year on San Diego Bay have been charged with a total of 12 criminal counts. Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo, commander of the 11th Coast Guard District — which includes San Diego — formally charged the four crewmembers July 1. “These are charges and accusations, and they are innocent until proven guilty in the proceedings,” said Dan Dewell, an 11th District spokesman. The collision between a 33-foot USCG boat and a 26-foot Sea Ray runabout occurred during the San Diego Bay Parade of lights on Dec. 20, killing Anthony DeWeese of Rancho Peñasquitos and injuring five others. Charges were brought against the Coast Guard crewmembers under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). “When you have an investigation after any accident, investigators go in and as they go along, if they run across information and evidence that looks like it might be a violation of the UCMJ, they bring it up to the authority. That’s the step we’re at,” Dewell said. Petty Officer Paul A. Ramos, coxswain of the boat, faces the most charges. Ramos was charged with involuntary manslaughter (punishable by 10 years maximum confinement), aggravated assault (3 to 6 years maximum), negligently hazarding a vessel (2 years maximum) and dereliction of duty (3 months maximum and two-thirds reduction of pay). Petty Officer Ian M. Howell was charged with negligent homicide (3 years maximum), aggravated assault, negligently causing a vessel to be hazarded (2 years maximum) and dereliction of duty. Petty Officer Brittany N. Rasmussen was charged with negligent homicide, aggravated assault and dereliction of duty. Petty Officer Lavelle M. Teague appeared to be the least culpable crewmember, according to investigators, and was charged with dereliction of duty. With the exception of dereliction of duty, each of the other four more serious charges include dishonorable discharge from the USCG. Dewell said the charges levied are unprecedented. “According to all the legal staff here on the West Coast and back in Washington [D.C.], no one could recall charges of this magnitude being filed against somebody in the Coast Guard in connection with them performing their duty,” Dewell said. The next step in the legal process is an Article 32 investigation, which is similar to a criminal trial. Dewell said the investigation will take place in several weeks, either in San Diego or at the 11th District headquarters in Alameda. “It typically takes several weeks to work out the logistics and schedules of various lawyers and people involved,” Dewell said.
