Captain Pleads Guilty in Sea Rape Case | San Antonio News

San Antonio News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 16, 2026 · 1m

A former cargo ship captain has pleaded guilty to drugging and raping a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet during a training voyage in 2019 — a case that took six years to resolve. The captain invited the victim to his cabin for a drink, and she awoke with no memory of the night and feeling ill. Prosecutors were ready to proceed with multiple charges, including aggravated sexual abuse, and had planned to call additional accusers. The victim’s lawyer called the guilty plea a moment of relief — “It’s over” — while acknowledging the extreme difficulty of prosecuting such crimes at sea. The…