The Coast Guard has dropped the most serious charges against the highest-ranking member of the crew on a boat involved in a collision with a pleasure boat in San Diego Bay, killing an 8-year-old boy.
The Coast Guard said Monday the court-martial for Petty Officer 2nd Class Ian Howell will begin Tuesday at Camp Pendleton on a charge of dereliction of duty.
He no longer faces charges of negligent homicide, assault and negligence with a boat.
Howell's court-martial was initially scheduled for May.
The driver, Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Ramos, was sentenced to three months in the brig last week for dereliction of duty for his role in the 2009 crash. Ramos was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter and three other charges.
