A charter yacht captain, who was operating a vessel engulfed in flames off the Bronx coast, lacked the necessary license to do so.
Joshua Burrito, 33, was reportedly drinking while navigating a 36-foot boat filled with 22 passengers celebrating a family birthday when it exploded near Hart Island on June 7th.
Prosecutors state Brito does not possess a captain’s license and collected over $3,000 from this unlawful charter, all while drinking alcohol onboard.
“Fortunately, when the boat burst into flames and passengers jumped into the water, there were no fatalities. However, one woman nearly drowned, and a man sustained serious burns,” Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark mentioned in a statement.
Clark further noted, “It was reckless for the defendant to drink while piloting the boat. Thankfully, a nearby rescue team acted swiftly to save lives.”
A man suffered severe burns over his body and requested a skin graft for treatment, according to reports.
Burrito was arrested on Thursday at the Bronx Supreme Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, subsequently being released without bail, as court records show.
The charges follow more than three months after his initial arrest, which revealed that Brito had “watery eyes” and a “strong smell of alcohol.”
He had already pleaded not guilty to three counts relating to operating the vessel under the influence after his first arrest but had been released afterward. Allegedly, he confessed to officers about a recent issue with the Carver 35 boat.
“I picked up the group at the World Fair,” he reportedly told police, according to the complaint. “There was a problem with the boat two days ago. I had to cut off the generator.”
Brito is expected to return to court on October 29th.
