Sailor accused of igniting Navy warship puts fate in judge
By JULIE WATSON
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The young sailor accused of igniting the USS Bonhomme Richard on Monday agreed to put his fate in the hands of a lone Navy judge. The court martial of 21-year-old Ryan Sawyer Mays started Monday at Naval Base San Diego. Mays waived his right to a jury and told Capt. Derek Butler that he wants him to rule at the end of the court martial. Prosecutors say Mays wanted the Navy to pay after failing to become a Navy SEAL. Mays has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers say the Navy is making him a scapegoat rather than take the blame for senior officers mismanaging the ship.
