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 2 ½ 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.
KOMO-TV reports that 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, British Columbia.
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.
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