Worker who set fire to submarine to be sentenced

[March 15, 2013]  PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- A shipyard worker who set fire to the USS Miami because he wanted to go home and ended up causing $450 million in damage is due to be sentenced.

Under a plea agreement, Casey James Fury faces a sentence of about 15 to 19 years on Friday. He can withdraw his guilty pleas if a greater penalty is imposed for the fire that injured seven and caused extensive damage.

Fury, formerly of Portsmouth, N.H., admitted setting the May 23 fire while the nuclear submarine was in dry dock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

The Navy intends to repair the Los Angeles-class attack sub, which is based in Groton, Conn. But the repairs have been postponed for now because of the automatic federal budget cuts.

[Associated Press]

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