BUFFALO — A 56-year-old Hamburg man who was convicted of obstruction of waterways, was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,416.50 to the United States Coast Guard by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, Paul E. Van Voorhees was the Dock Master at the Buffalo Yacht Club and was responsible for maintenance of the buildings, grounds, and marina. On Nov. 5, 2015, Van Vorhees and another employee of the Buffalo Yacht Club towed a damaged 13’ aluminum row boat that had been floating in the water in front of the Buffalo Yacht Club into the Black Rock Canal. After reaching a certain location in the canal, the defendant released the boat into the canal with the intention of sinking it in the canal. A witness alerted the United States Coast Guard (USCG). During an initial interview with USCG personnel, Van Voorhees denied releasing the boat into the canal. The boat was eventually recovered by the USCG from the Black Rock Canal. In a subsequent interview on Dec. 23, 2015, the defendant admitted that he attempted to sink the boat in the canal.
from US Dept. of Justice via IFTTT
