Crime & Safety

Trial Delayed in Tall Ships Cannon Blast Case

Trial has been delayed of a tall ship captain accused of negligence after two women were injured from live cannon fire.

The trial of a man charged with accidentally injuring two women with cannon fire during last year's Dana Point Tall Ships Festival has been delayed.

Steven Denton pleaded not guilty last year to one misdemeanor of grossly negligent discharge of a firearm. His jury trial had been planned for earlier this month, but it is now scheduled to begin Dec. 2, according to Orange County Superior Court records.

Denton was captain of the tall ship Amazing Grace, a ship that had live ammunition on board according to an ensuing investigation, the Orange County Register reports.

Two women from another ship were struck by shotgun shell pellets in September during a mock cannon battle, the newspaper said. The women include Donna Reed, who had pellets lodged into her shin, the Register said.


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