The captain of a constitution yacht that burst into flames off a Bronx shoreline had no license to function the vessel — and has been indicted on a boatload of latest costs, prosecutors revealed.
Joshua Brito, 33, was allegedly ingesting whereas working a 36-foot vessel full of 22 passengers celebrating a household birthday when it ignited in a fiery explosion close to Hart Island on June 7, forcing everybody onboard to leap ship, the Bronx District Legal professional’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement Thursday.
Brito had no captain’s license and allegedly profited over $3,000 from the unlawful constitution whereas tossing again booze, prosecutors mentioned.
“Fortunately, nobody was killed when the vessel burst into flames and passengers jumped into the water, however a girl almost drowned, and a person suffered critical burns,” Bronx District Legal professional Darcel Clark mentioned in an announcement.
“The defendant put his passengers in danger when he drank alcohol alongside them as he piloted the boat. Luckily, rescue crews had been close by and acted swiftly to save lots of their lives,” Clark added.
One man fell into the fireplace and suffered second and third-degree burns throughout his physique, requiring pores and skin grafts to restore his accidents, authorities mentioned.
Brito was arraigned Thursday in Bronx Supreme Courtroom on a slew of costs, together with first-degree vehicular assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, and a number of counts of sailing whereas intoxicated, in accordance with prosecutors.
He pleaded not responsible to the laundry listing of costs and was launched with out bail, court docket data present.
The costs come greater than three months after Brito was initially arrested when he advised cops he had a single beer after they discovered him on the scene of the wreck.
However Brito had “watery eyes” and a “sturdy odor of alcohol,” emanating from his breath, in accordance with his prison grievance.
He additionally pleaded not responsible to 3 counts of working a vessel whereas inebriated or medicine following his preliminary arrest. He was launched after these costs.
The failed seaman allegedly admitted to cops that he had a difficulty with the Carver 35 boat simply days earlier.
“I picked up the group at World Truthful,” he advised police, the grievance mentioned. “I had a difficulty with the boat two days in the past. I disconnected the generator.”
He’s due again in court docket on Oct. 29.
