Ryan Mays (20th Seaman Recruit) is facing two charges in military court. He was charged with the July 2020 fire that caused the deaths of dozens of people on board the amphibious assault ship. The fire burned for five consecutive days, sending acrid smoke over San Diego.
It was one of the most serious non-combat warship accidents in recent history and it had to be scrapped. It would have cost approximately $4 billion to replace.
Prosecutors said Mays started the fire after he became disgruntled from his Navy SEAL training. His defense lawyers claimed that there was no evidence linking him to the fire.
Mays was charged for aggravated arson as well as the willful hazarding a vessel.
Gary Barthel, defense lawyer, stated that the decision to go to trial was made despite the recommendation of a hearing officer that there wasn’t enough evidence to convict after a December preliminary hearing.
Barthel stated that “in our view it’s that Navy’s looking for justice in the case.” “The Navy is looking to make Mays a scapegoat.
Barthel stated that Mays was disappointed by the decision. Barthel said that Mays maintains his innocence, and he looks forward to the trial.
A Navy spokesperson did no return calls or emails seeking comment.
One witness claimed that Mays was in the spot where the ship caught fire, while another stated that he later confessed to starting the fire.
“I guess I’m guilty. “I did it,” Mays confessed while being led to the brig by Sailor Carissa Tubman in August 2020. Mays said, “It had got to be done.”
Defense lawyers stated that Mays was shocked to learn that he was being held at the time.
Mays is now released. After the December hearing, Mays was released. However, the Navy declined to explain why.
Mays was placed near the flames by a witness. He offered contradictory statements as to whether or not he believed it was Mays. Another seaman credited Mays for saving him from the flames.
According to the lead federal fire investigator, the government’s chief fire investigator determined that the fire started on July 12, 2020 by someone who lit carboard boxes below deck in a vehicle storage area. Expert evidence was presented by the defense that suggested that the fire may have been caused by an electrical problem.
Investigators were told that Mays was in the hangar bay when he noticed the fire and alerted one crew member to help fight it, according court documents.
As strong winds whipsaw flames into an inferno that ignited explosions, 160 officers and sailors were aboard. More than 60 civilians and sailors were treated for minor injuries and heat exhaustion.
The vessel, measuring 840 feet (256 meters), was docked at Naval Base San Diego during a $250 million upgrade.
According to a report, the fire was deliberately set but the crew wasn’t prepared to extinguish it. Three of the four fire stations were also found to have been altered. According to court documents, one hose was cut and one had been disconnected.
According to investigators, dozens of Navy officials including admirals have been disciplined for failings that investigators claimed prevented the blaze being extinguished sooner.
Mays, who hails from Kentucky, dropped out of SEAL training. However, he informed fellow sailors that he had been hurt during the “Hell Week.” He was then reassigned as deck duty to clean up the Bonhomme.
Witnesses claimed that he didn’t want to be there, and that he wasn’t liked.
Mays was “selfish and whiney because he quit the SEALs,” Matthew Betz, Petty Officer 2nd Class, testified in December.
Defense lawyers claimed that Mays was arrogant by his peers because he was a SEAL. They denied that Mays hated the Navy more then other sailors who were assigned to cleaning duties.
