SEATTLE — A man who told police he took the Victoria Clipper ferry from its Seattle waterfront berth as a birthday present to himself has been sentenced to nearly 21/2 years in prison.
Samuel McDonough of Preston was able to break the ferry away from the dock on Dec. 1 but didn’t know how to operate the vessel, which was spotted drifting in Elliott Bay.
The 33-year-old was eventually arrested.
McDonough was sentenced Friday.
He earlier pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges.
He also told police he was a “pirate” and said he wanted to go to Victoria, B.C.
In charging papers, prosecutors say McDonough took the $8 million, 480-ton boat after climbing through a hole in a fence and using keys he found in the boat’s pilot house.
