A man whom authorities allege was under the influence of alcohol when his sport-fishing boat crashed into the jetty of Long Beach’s Alamitos Bay last summer, killing one of his passengers, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two felony counts.
Kevin King, 57, of Long Beach, is charged with one count each of vehicular manslaughter in the operation of a vessel while intoxicated and one count of operating a vessel or water device under the influence of alcohol, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
King allegedly crashed the 48-foot boat at about 9:20 p.m. July 3, 2024, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
John Correa, 59, of Long Beach, died at the scene.
Seven other passengers were seriously injured, with the case against King including allegations that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on them, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“This case is a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of operating any vehicle — on land or water — while under the influence of alcohol,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges. “A day of recreation turned into a nightmare, leaving one person dead and many others seriously injured. My support and sympathy go out to the family and friends of John Correa — a former Millikan High School and UC Berkeley baseball player, coach and mentor — as they continue to mourn their loss, and I wish the injured a full recovery.”
The district attorney added that “anyone who chooses to operate a vehicle intoxicated — whether a car, motorcycle, or boat — puts lives at risk, and they will be held accountable.”
King is free on $100,000 bond, according to court records.
He is due back in a Long Beach courtroom May 9, with a date scheduled to be set then for a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to allow the case against him to proceed to trial.
King could face up to 13 years in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.