Ex-Captain of Boat That Burned, Killing 34, Conviction Upheld

Federal appeals panel in Pasadena affirms manslaughter conviction of former Conception captain Jerry Boylan.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A federal appeals panel in Pasadena, California has upheld the manslaughter conviction of Jerry Boylan, the former captain of the dive boat Conception, which caught fire near Santa Cruz Island in 2019, killing 33 passengers and 1 crew member. Boylan was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison in 2024 for the single charged count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer, also known as seaman's manslaughter.

Why it matters

The Conception fire is considered the worst maritime disaster in modern California history, sparking scrutiny over safety regulations and oversight of commercial passenger vessels. The upholding of Boylan's conviction reinforces the legal accountability for captains and crew in such catastrophic incidents.

The details

Boylan was convicted in November 2023 following a 10-day trial in Los Angeles federal court. In his appeal, Boylan's public defender argued that legal errors prejudicially impaired the defense strategy, but the three-judge Ninth Circuit panel found the evidence against Boylan to be "overwhelming."

  • The Conception fire occurred on Labor Day in 2019.
  • Boylan was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison in 2024.
  • Boylan's conviction was upheld by the federal appeals panel on March 4, 2026.

The players

Jerry Boylan

The 72-year-old former captain of the dive boat Conception, who was convicted of manslaughter for the 2019 fire that killed 34 people.

Hunter Haney

Boylan's federal public defender, who argued unsuccessfully for the conviction to be overturned.

Judge John Owens

The Ninth Circuit judge who wrote the opinion upholding Boylan's conviction, stating the evidence against him was "overwhelming."

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What they’re saying

“This case an undeniable tragedy, but legal errors prejudicially impaired the defense strategy of the Conception's captain.”

— Hunter Haney, Federal Public Defender (Pasadena Now)

“The evidence against Boylan was overwhelming.”

— Judge John Owens (Pasadena Now)

What’s next

Boylan will remain in federal prison to serve out the remainder of his 4-year sentence.

The takeaway

The upholding of Boylan's manslaughter conviction underscores the legal accountability captains and crew face for maritime disasters, even in cases where the specific cause of the incident may be unclear. This ruling sets an important precedent for ensuring greater safety and oversight in the commercial passenger vessel industry.