A 39-year-old North Haven fisherman has been charged with manslaughter in connection to the June 18 death of crew member 57-year-old Marshall Ames.
Ames, of North Haven, was a crew member on the 43-foot-long, gray-hulled commercial lobster and seine fishing vessel Long Faces that was operated by Geoffrey E. Barrett, 39, according to state officials. Barrett was arrested that evening and charged with felony operating a watercraft while under the influence, misdemeanor assault, and refusing to submit to arrest or detention. Barrett refused to take a chemical test, Maine Patrol said in a statement issued on June 19.
Barrett was released the following morning on $500 cash bail.
The cause of death of Ames has not been released. The Maine Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause is not being released because of the ongoing investigation.
The affidavit filed by Maine Marine Patrol in court following the boating incident remains sealed.
The charges have since been upgraded to include Class A manslaughter, two felony counts of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, felony operating a watercraft under the influence, felony aggravated failure to render assistance after a watercraft accident, and misdemeanor counts of reckless operation of a watercraft, obstructing government administration, assault, and refusing to submit to arrest.
The criminal complaint filed by the district attorney’s office states that Barrett acted with criminal negligence or recklessly and caused the death of Ames. The reckless conduct charges allege that Barrett recklessly created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to Ames and Theodore H. Lane with a dangerous weapon – a fishing vessel.
And the failure to provide assistance charge alleges that he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly failed to render assistance to Ames after he was injured. The obstructing government administration charge alleges he used force, violence, or intimidation to prevent emergency medical services from performing their duties.
The assault charge alleges he assaulted a Marine Patrol officer.
Barrett is scheduled to make his initial appearance on the charges on Nov. 5. That date could change if a grand jury issues indictments before that November hearing.
Barrett remains free on the $500 bail he posted in June.
The Maine Marine Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard responded at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18, to the report of a person in the water near Hurricane Sound off Vinalhaven. A Good Samaritan recovered Ames’ body. The Good Samaritan performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
The two agencies and Vinalhaven emergency medical services responded to the boat that recovered the body and brought him to Dyer Island. Ames was declared dead at the scene by EMS, according to the Marine Patrol.
According to the National Weather Service, a weather buoy at the entrance to West Penobscot Bay recorded winds at 24 knots with gusts to 31 knots at 4:30 p.m. A buoy at the central Maine shelf just south of Monhegan had winds of 28 knots gusting to 34 knots at 4:30 p.m. Seas increased from about 3 feet at noon to 8 to 9 feet between 4 and 5 p.m.
A knot is equal to 1.15 miles per hour.
Lane, 27, of North Haven, was charged with assault and disorderly conduct in conjunction with the incident. He was released on $500 unsecured bail that same day. Lane was fined $300 on the assault charge and $150 on the disorderly conduct charge during a court hearing last month.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.