Penalty for faking a distress call to CG

[Mark Mc]

Justice Served:
http://www.piersystem.com/external/i...&pressid=33666

Aberdeen man sentenced to 12 months and 1 day and ordered to pay $194,587 restitution for making false distress message to the United States Coast Guard

SEATTLE - John McKay, United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Rear Adm. Jeffrey M. Garrett, Commander, Thirteenth Coast Guard District, and Russell Barker, Special Agent in Charge of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Northwest Region, announced that today, the Honorable Franklin D. Burgess, United States District Judge of the Western Washington District of Washington, sentenced JAMES GARRETT BALDWIN, age 31, of Aberdeen, Wash., in Federal District Court to twelve months and one day's imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release for one count of Communicating a False Distress Message to the United States Coast Guard. The court also ordered Baldwin to pay $194,587 in restitution to the U.S. Coast Guard.

On July 10, 2003, Baldwin pleaded guilty to communicating a false distress message to the U.S. Coast Guard, as set forth in the indictment.

On November 19, 2002, U.S. Coast Guard Group Astoria, Ore., responded to a radio distress call from a person claiming that he and his crew were abandoning a vessel taking on water at the entrance to John's River, Wash. The Coast Guard dispatched a HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, a 47-foot motor lifeboat and a 23-foot utility boat, and searched the area in severe weather conditions for more than 15 hours, before concluding the distress call was false. As a result of responding to this distress call, the Coast Guard incurred costs of $194,587.

The matter was investigated by agents of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, with assistance from the Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Lulejian and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Kennedy, Thirteenth Coast Guard District Legal Office, prosecuted this case.

For further information, please contact Asst. U.S. Attorney Lawrence Lincoln at (206) 553-4127; or Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier, 13th Coast Guard District Public Affairs, at (206) 220-7237.

[ProCastinator]

One would think a 31-year-old man would have a little more sense than that. Serves him right...

[Joss]

Justice Served.

[shalom]

The old COAST GUARD MOTTO IS YOU HAVE TO GO SEARCH BUT , BUT NOT ALLWAYS COME BACK .

OLD COASTIE arty; :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

[Seefood Man]

[img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] I'M SOOOOOOO GLAD they busted this moron. Those people risk their lives for us everyday. [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

[jokester]

What a <jerk> He got what he deserves IHMO!! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

-jokester

[ 03-14-2004, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: skein ]

[hookumhi]

Hang him HIGH

[lost_sailor]

Too lenient! Drop him at Buoy 2 and let him swim to shore.

[ 03-14-2004, 10:07 AM: Message edited by: lost_sailor ]

[notaclue]

I am stationed at Air Station Astoria. Alot of people put their lives on the line that night. The weather was well beyond limits, but the decision was made to go out any way. I went to Seattle a month ago to one of the hearings and this guy really looked like a dirt bag. Glad he got what was coming to him. The worst part is this type of thing happens alot more than you would think.

[Mark Mc]

Notaclue, did the fellow say anything at all when you were there?

[skein]

Good deal!

The call came in and the Coasties went out. It was a tough, but brave, decision. I hope this case gets lots of play in the media. Might make the other jerks stop and think.

BTW, thanks to all the Coast Guard and those beautiful, beautiful boats and choppers. If I ever call you, it will be the real thing.

Skein

[Mark Vickers]

You know, I cannot honestly comprehend doing such a thing. Really. Even when I was a stupid teenager constantly doing dumb stunts I would have never considered this as even remotely interesting or fun to do.

I just don't get it. It makes no sense.

And yes, the guy got what he deserved.

[shalom]

Some things never change . I can remember a lot of stupid stories back in 1957 when people would call the COAST GUARD or put in false mayday calls. One would think that people would get smarter with time.
:smile: :smile: :smile:

[Stz ll]

[ 03-14-2004, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Stz ll ]