Article: Ship's pilot charged in San Francisco Bay bridge oil spill

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The pilot of a ship that spilled thousands of gallons of oil into San Francisco Bay in November was charged by federal prosecutors Monday with criminal negligence and breaking environmental laws.

Capt. John Cota faces as many 18 months in jail and more than $100,000 in fines if convicted of the misdemeanor charges, including harming migrant birds protected by the government and violating the Clean Water Act. Cota was not taken into custody, according to court papers.

He was at the helm of the container ship Cosco Busan when it struck a fender protecting a support tower beneath the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge on its way to South Korea on Nov. 7. The ship emptied ...

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