The Article 32 hearing (sort of a military version of a civilian grand jury) for Sitka-based U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Lance Leone could be entering its final day Friday.
Leone, who was the only survivor of a 2010 helicopter crash that killed three of his comrades off the coast of Washington state, faces charges of negligent homicide, dereliction of duty, and destruction of government property. If a court-martial ensues following the Article 32 hearing, he faces a possible maximum penalty of 7 1/2 years in jail if convicted on all counts.
The hearing began Wednesday, and commander of Sitka Air Station, Cmdr. William Cameron, and lead crash investigator, Capt. Timothy Heitsch, testified Thursday, according to The Associated Press (via the Anchorage Daily News).
Capt. Heitsch's testimony centered on what his investigation learned about the final minutes of the flight before it struck power lines stretched over the water, and what Lt. Leone's expected role should have been.
Cameron testified that he was ready to drop the charges against Leone, but that his decision was "somewhat overrun by events." He stated that he told the new Alaska commander, Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, that he wasn't going to take action, but that Ostebo responded by suggesting Cameron was letting emotions cloud his judgment.
Read more from The AP, here, and get thorough day-by-day reports from Juneau's KTOO-FM: Day one, day two, and a look ahead at day three, Friday, through the lens of Thursday's testimony.