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The Navy has filed charges against a sailor in connection with the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego last July, the service announced Thursday.<\/p>\n
“Evidence collected during the investigation is sufficient to direct a preliminary hearing in accordance with due process under the military justice system. The Sailor was a member of Bonhomme Richard\u2019s crew at the time and is accused of starting the fire,” 3rd Fleet spokesperson Cmdr. Sean Robertson said in a statement.<\/p>\n
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Vice Adm. Steve Koehler, the 3rd Fleet commander, is considering court-martial charges, according to the statement.<\/p>\n
The admiral has set a preliminary hearing before any trial proceedings, “including whether or not there is probable cause to believe an offense has been committed and to offer a recommendation as to the disposition of the case,” Robertson said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Navy announced late last year it would scrap the aging amphibious assault ship.<\/p>\n
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The Bonhomme Ricahrd was commissioned in 1998 at a cost of $750 million. Adjusted to 2020 dollars, that’s $1.2 billion.<\/p>\n
The damage to the ship from the days-long fire, that at times reached 1,000 degrees, was too much to repair for a ship that had already been in service for almost a quarter of a century, according to the Navy.<\/p>\n