A Cushing lobsterman will serve four years in prison for causing the death of two of his crew members when his boat capsized more than four years ago.
Christopher A. Hutchinson, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of seaman’s manslaughter in September. On Thursday, a federal judge sentenced him to serve four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Tom Hammond, 27, of Rockland and Tyler Sawyer of St. George and Waldoboro were never found following the Nov. 1, 2014, sinking of Hutchinson’s boat, No Limits. The boat sank about 20 miles off the coast of Port Clyde during a storm.
Hutchinson was rescued by the Coast Guard hours after his boat capsized.
Despite the predicted storm, Hutchinson decided to continue with a planned fishing trip Nov. 1, 2014, according to court records. After drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana on Halloween night, Hutchinson, Hammond and Sawyer departed from a dock in Tenants Harbor around 1 a.m. on the No Limits.
Prior to the boat capsizing, Hutchinson also ingested oxycodone that he purchased the day before, according to court documents.
Hutchinson will begin his sentence immediately, according to a court clerk at the U.S. District Court in Portland.