Man sentenced for making false distress call

NEW BERN, NC (WWAY) — A Beaufort man is going to prison for making a false distress call to the US Coast Guard.

In October of 2013, Brandon Paul Garner called in a “MayDay”,  claiming a child was trapped on a sinking boat near Core Creek Bridge in Beaufort.

Emergency responders found no boat or child.

The Coast Guard determined that the call was a hoax, but not before nearly $20,000 in resources was used in the search.

A judge sentenced Garner to 28 months behind bars and ordered him to pay restitution.

Garner will remain on probation for 3 years.