by Joshua Young at The Post Millennial
US Navy Sailor Ryan Sawyer Mays was found not guilty on Friday of arson and the willful hazarding of a ship, over a fire that consumed the USS Bonhomme Richard back in 2020 in San Diego.
According to the Associated Press, a spokesman for the US 3rd Fleet, Lt. Samuel R. Boyle, said, “Seaman Recruit Mays was found not guilty on the charges of willful hazarding of a vessel and aggravated arson. The Navy is committed to upholding the principles of due process and a fair trial.”
The trial lasted nine days at Naval Base San Diego.
Prosecutors said that when May was 19, he tried and failed to become a Navy SEAL and harbored resentment for his military branch after that. Then he became frustrated with his division officer over boxes that were cluttering the ship that were left by contractors.
Prosecutors alleged he set fire to those boxes to “send a message.” But in the trial, no physical evidence was produced that tied Mays to the docked ship at the time, as the boat was undergoing maintenance.
A Navy report concluded that the fire on the amphibious assault ship…
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