Jeff Knight Charged in Clearwater Ferry Crash; Attorney Denies Allegations

Legal Troubles for Former Jannus Live Owner

Jeff Knight, the former owner of Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, is currently facing eight felony charges related to his involvement in a deadly ferry crash that occurred in Clearwater in April. Following the incident, Knight immediately stepped down from his role at the concert venue. His actions have sparked significant legal and public scrutiny.

The tragic event claimed the life of Jose Castro, 41, and resulted in injuries to ten others. The family of Castro expressed their deep sorrow, emphasizing that no amount of justice can replace what they have lost. Sandy Todd, Castro’s sister, shared her feelings, stating, “It’s not a day that we don’t think about my brother and remember. It’s been very hard days for us, very painful days.”

Knight was arrested on Monday night after returning from the Bahamas. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), he voluntarily surrendered in the United States following the filing of charges. The FWC worked with his attorney to facilitate this process.

The mother of Knight’s children, Jenny Hernandez, highlighted the impact of the tragedy on their lives. “Today is not only just about the charges, or the accident, but to remember the kind of man, the kind of father that Jose Castro was,” she said. Knight has consistently maintained that he could not see the ferry on the dark water during the crash.

Investigation into the Crash

The FWC confirmed that they are also charging the captain of the ferry for operating a commercial vessel without a functioning aft light. Captain Matt Dallarosa of the FWC explained the investigative efforts, stating, “We have to do significant functionality testing, forensic analysis on the GPS’s that were available for all of the vessels that were there.” This included electrical testing on the light in question to determine its functionality at the time of the incident.

The investigation also revealed that the radar on Knight’s boat was not working during the crash. However, the FWC noted that private vessels are not required to have operational radar. Knight claimed that he left the scene because his boat was taking on water, but the FWC found no evidence to support this claim.

“He did remain on scene for a period of time, but our evidence revealed, and a lot of 911 calls revealed that there was a significant change in the demeanor, and there was an attempt to leave the scene,” Dallarosa added.

Legal Proceedings and Defense

Knight has been released on bond, and the attorney for the victim’s family stated that he faces a potential long prison sentence. George Tragos, the attorney, remarked, “The fact they went for felonies, and the fact those felonies can be a lot of years in prison, we’re satisfied with that.”

However, Knight’s legal team has disputed these claims, asserting that he remained on the scene for over 11 minutes. Attorney J. Kevin Hayslett stated in a statement, “He didn’t flee. He stayed, he helped, and he made the call. But that didn’t fit the early narrative.” Hayslett criticized the charges, suggesting they were based more on Knight’s demeanor than factual evidence. He also pointed to the ferry captain’s alleged violations of federal safety standards.

“It’s ironic — and frankly outrageous — that Knight was vilified while the ferry was operating in complete violation of federal safety standards,” Hayslett wrote. “This is the maritime equivalent of a school bus driving at night with no taillights — and blaming the driver who couldn’t see it.”

Knight’s defense team has indicated they look forward to presenting their evidence to a jury, highlighting the ongoing legal battle surrounding the incident.