Shipping company pleads guilty in molasses spill

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141025/us--molasses_spill-charges-b2fe0abb77.html

Oct 24, 9:28 PM (ET)

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER

HONOLULU (AP) — A shipping company pleaded guilty Friday to criminal charges from a 233,000-gallon molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor, but a federal judge said he wants to examine the legality of $600,000 in community service payments the company has agreed to pay.

Last year's spill killed more than 26,000 fish and other marine life.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Puglisi accepted the plea from Matson Navigation Company Inc. to two misdemeanor charges for illegally releasing the molasses without a permit. The company and federal prosecutors wanted to proceed immediately with sentencing, with both sides agreeing Matson would pay a $400,000 fine and give $600,000 to environmental organizations.

But Puglisi said he has concerns because the $600,000 community service payment is higher than the maximum statutory fine. Each count carries a maximum fine of $200,000, and Matson has agreed to pay $400,000 for both.

FULL story at link.