Captain Pleads Guilty to Sea Assault | Irvine News

Presented by The Plant Daddies — rare specimen trees, living art, and hand-carved limestone vessels and fountains for extraordinary spaces. Showrooms in Los Angeles and Irvine. Listeners of Irvine News Today receive 10% off with code LANEWS10. theplantdaddies.com/lanews A former cargo ship captain has pleaded guilty to drugging and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old cadet during her training voyage — a case that’s now part of a broader pattern of abuse spanning decades. The victim, who still works in maritime operations, reportedly said “It’s over” after the plea, as prosecutors had prepared to bring forward multiple other accusers. The case highlights the unique challenges of prosecuting sexual assault at sea, where evidence is scarce and victims often suffer memory loss. Despite a prior conviction overturned on appeal, Merrone remains free on bail until sentencing in December. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Sea Year program — which sends cadets aboard commercial vessels — has faced repeated suspensions due to abuse allegations, prompting new safety reforms each time it resumed. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5673360f9830f3f2