The captain of a charter yacht that burst into flames off a Bronx shoreline had no license to operate the vessel — and has been indicted on a boatload of new charges, prosecutors revealed.
Joshua Brito, 33, was allegedly drinking while operating a 36-foot vessel packed with 22 passengers celebrating a family birthday when it ignited in a fiery explosion near Hart Island on June 7, forcing everyone onboard to jump ship, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Thursday.
Brito had no captain’s license and allegedly profited over $3,000 from the illegal charter while tossing back booze, prosecutors said.
“Thankfully, no one was killed when the vessel burst into flames and passengers jumped into the water, but a woman nearly drowned, and a man suffered serious burns,” Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a statement.
“The defendant put his passengers at risk when he drank alcohol alongside them as he piloted the boat. Fortunately, rescue crews were nearby and acted swiftly to save their lives,” Clark added.
One man fell into the fire and suffered second and third-degree burns across his body, requiring skin grafts to repair his injuries, authorities said.
Brito was arraigned Thursday in Bronx Supreme Court on a slew of charges, including first-degree vehicular assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, and multiple counts of boating while intoxicated, according to prosecutors.
He pleaded not guilty to the laundry list of charges and was released without bail, court records show.
The charges come more than three months after Brito was initially arrested when he told cops he had a single beer when they found him at the scene of the wreck.
But Brito had “watery eyes” and a “strong odor of alcohol,” emanating from his breath, according to his criminal complaint.
He also pleaded not guilty to three counts of operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs following his initial arrest. He was released after those charges.
The failed seaman allegedly admitted to cops that he had an issue with the Carver 35 boat just days earlier.
“I picked up the group at World Fair,” he told police, the complaint said. “I had an issue with the boat two days ago. I disconnected the generator.”
He is due back in court on Oct. 29.
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