Coast Guard officer in fatal California boat crash sentenced to pay cut

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The highest-ranking member of the Coast Guard crew involved in a collision with a pleasure boat that killed an 8-year-old boy has been sentenced to a pay cut.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Ian Howell was sentenced at a summary court-martial Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty.

Howell was sentenced to a reduction in pay and rank, forfeiture of two-thirds of one month’s pay, and restriction to base for 30 days except to attend college classes.

The sentence is near the maximum allowed for the charge. It must be approved by Adm. Joseph Castillo, commander of the 11th Coast Guard district.

Howell publicly apologized to the boy’s family and said he wishes he was the one killed in the crash in San Diego Bay.

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