Cops: BWI suspect had 16 kids on board

A Manhasset man faces a charge of boating while intoxicated after Southold Bay constables stopped his 22-foot boat with 16 children on board near the Greenport breakwater, town police said.

Charles D. Miller, of Manhasset, was stopped by constables around 2:52 p.m. Saturday near the rock jetty, Southold police said.

Miller pleaded not guilty to single counts of boating while intoxicated, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless operation of a vessel at his arraignment Monday in Southold Town court, and was ordered held on $3,000 cash bail, Clifford said. His next court appearance is Friday.

Police said in a report that Miller was "found to be operating the vessel in an intoxicated condition" and that it was "overloaded" with "16 minor children." Flatley said passengers on the boat, a Grady-White center-console model, were wearing life vests. Court papers said there were 18 people on board, including the 16 children, Clifford said.

The Coast Guard sets maximum occupancy numbers only for boats smaller than 20 feet. Flatley said police did not know the recommended occupancy for the boat. A phone call to Grady-White offices in Greenville, N.C., seeking information was not immediately returned.