BOCA RATON, FLA. (WSVN) - Two South Florida teens accused of trashing the ocean have turned themselves into authorities and are facing felony charges.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Friday afternoon confirmed 15-year-old Charles Henry Ruth and 16-year-old Michael Mastics Kirby surrendered to the Palm Beach Juvenile Detention Center in West Palm Beach to face the consequences for the actions that were captured on video that went viral.
The teens are facing charges of causing pollution so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant or aquatic life, a third-degree felony.
Ruth and Kirby were caught on video, captured by the digital content creator Wavy Boats, dumping two garbage bins filled with trash into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean as they were on their way out of the Boca Raton Inlet, probably from an unsanctioned event out in the water called Boca Bash, late Sunday afternoon.
Seth Stern, a videographer for Wavy Boats, said that initially, he wasn’t quite sure what he’d captured, but when he looks at his video again, it was unmistakable.
“I was absolutely disgusted,” he said. “This was done deliberately, like, they went out, they dumped their trash, they turned around, they came right back in. I mean, it was disgusting.”
FWC investigators said Ruth is one of the passengers on board the board the boat “Halcyon,” seen wearing a white hat, and Kirby is seen shirtless and wearing gray shorts.
The teens even appear to celebrate their actions, waving the bins around.
Stern’s footage captured the aftermath in the water. The trail of trash was spotted by others, and by law enforcement.
According to the arrest report, inside those bins were “plastic water bottles, unknown cans, unknown food bags, plastic cups and other unidentifiable items.”
“It’s shocking, disheartening,” said Madeline Kaufman with the volunteer-run organization Debris Free Ocean. “I’m a marine biologist by trade, and so, just seeing someone doing that is disheartening, and then they go on to celebrate and look at the cameras that are filming them.”
Investigators said they were able to identify and charge Ruth and Kirby.
Friday afternoon, FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto issued a statement that reads in part:
“Callous disregard for Florida’s environment will not be tolerated. This is a teaching moment for all those involved-Florida’s natural resources are precious, and we should all do our part to protect them.”
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto
FWC Maj. Dustin Bonds also issued a statement. It reads in part:
The negative impact this type of deliberate pollution has on our beaches, reef system and estuaries cannot be understated. This type of criminal activity harms our wildlife and undermines the investment made by the people of Florida to keep our unique ecosystem healthy.”
FWC Maj. Dustin Bonds
A 7News crew tried to speak with Ruth’s family earlier in the week, but someone inside the home shut the front door on them. Another 7News crew tried again after the arrests, but no one answered the door.
But Friday night, Ruth’s family issued a following statement through a public relations firm:
“We take the responsibility of caring for our oceans and our community very seriously, and we are extremely saddened by what occurred last weekend at Boca Bash. We want to extend our sincerest apologies to everyone who has been impacted and rightfully upset by what occurred.
Our family and our counsel have remained in touch with FWC since we were first contacted by them and have continued to cooperate with all authorities.
As a family, we agree with FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto that this is a teaching moment for the young kids involved and they should certainly participate in community service and ocean conservation efforts to deepen their understanding of the importance of our community and environment.”
The Ruth Family
As for Kirby, he picked up his phone but declined to comment.
Stern said he has mixed feelings about what should happen next.
“I don’t want to see a 16-year-old, 15-year-old go to jail,” he said. “These spoiled little rich kids could do some community service. I think hundreds of hours of cleaning the beaches they so carelessly destroyed would be a perfect ending to this.”
The third-degree felony charge the teens are facing could lead to a fine of up to $50,000 and a sentence of up to five years in jail.
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