Man Arrested for Stealing $8M Fishing Boat in Westport

A Washington man, Joshua Stedman, was arrested for attempting to steal an $8 million fishing boat, the Jamie Marie, while the crew was still on board. Stedman boarded the vessel in Westport, posed as the captain, and convinced the crew to set sail, claiming they needed to get underway. His ruse was quickly discovered when he began making bizarre statements about meeting a 'Chinese Mothership,' prompting a crew member to contact the real captain. The crew managed to turn the boat around before they fully left the harbor, and authorities apprehended Stedman upon their return. He was found with $4,000 in cash and a significant amount of marijuana, leading to charges of theft and possession of stolen property. Earlier that day, he had attempted to commandeer another boat but was removed by the crew without reporting the incident until later.