USCG Administrative Law Judge Case
MLAA reporting based on Coast Guard S&R records and FOIA-obtained victim and witness statements describes Samuel Sullivan Irvin, a Maersk officer and Masters, Mates & Pilots member, as the subject of a major Coast Guard shipboard sexual-misconduct investigation. MLAA’s published profile says the Coast Guard charged Irvin with 12 counts of shipboard sexual misconduct, including allegations of rape, forcible sodomy, molestation, and sexual harassment. The ALJ docket record for CG S&R 07-0075 did not end in a hearing decision: on May 16, 2007, ALJ Parlen L. McKenna approved a settlement agreement under 33 C.F.R. § 20.502. The recorded sanction was a 30-month outright suspension, stayed revocation during 60 months of probation, alcohol-abuse rehabilitation, 24 AA meetings, and sexual-harassment training.
Disposition
Settlement Agreement
Posture
Settlement
Sanction
Suspension
30 months outright ; stayed revocation during 60 months probation; alcohol-abuse rehabilitation; 24 AA meetings; sexual-harassment training
Judge
Parlen L. McKenna
What the Record Shows
This page draws from two related source sets: the Coast Guard S&R settlement record for docket CG S&R 07-0075, and MLAA’s reporting on FOIA-obtained Coast Guard investigation records, victim statements, and witness statements involving Samuel Sullivan Irvin.
MLAA’s published profile describes Irvin as a Maersk chief mate and captain, a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduate, and a Masters, Mates & Pilots member. Based on Coast Guard investigation documents and statements obtained through records requests, MLAA reported that the Coast Guard charged Irvin with 12 counts of shipboard sexual misconduct, including allegations of rape, forcible sodomy, molestation, and sexual harassment.
The S&R docket itself resolved by settlement, not by a contested hearing decision. On May 14, 2007, the parties submitted a motion for settlement agreement and entry of a proposed consent order. On May 16, 2007, ALJ Parlen L. McKenna issued a Consent Order Approving Settlement Agreement under 33 C.F.R. § 20.502, finding the settlement in substantial compliance with the rule and approving it as the final adjudication of the proceeding.
The available case metadata records the sanction as a 30-month outright suspension, stayed revocation during 60 months of probation, alcohol-abuse rehabilitation, 24 AA meetings, and sexual-harassment training. Because the matter ended through a settlement agreement, this case page should not describe the ALJ record as a hearing decision finding each charged count proved. The factual background on this page comes from MLAA’s published reporting and the underlying FOIA records identified in that reporting.
Based on public docket metadata and available source documents. Allegations are described as allegations, not findings of fact or admissions.
Settlement agreement approved. Recorded sanction: 30 months outright suspension; stayed revocation during 60 months probation; alcohol-abuse rehabilitation; 24 AA meetings; sexual-harassment training.
Sanction: Suspension
Duration: 30 months suspension + 60 months probation
Nov 28, 2006
The enforcement summary lists November 28, 2006 as the violation date.
Feb 16, 2007
The enforcement summary states that the Coast Guard filed the complaint on February 16, 2007.
May 14, 2007
The consent order states that the parties submitted a motion for settlement agreement and entry of a proposed consent order.
May 16, 2007
Judge Parlen L. McKenna approved the settlement agreement and incorporated it into the consent order.
Sources, Context, and Method
Coast Guard suspension and revocation cases are administrative proceedings about a merchant mariner credential. They generally begin when a Coast Guard investigating officer files a complaint with the ALJ Docketing Center. Unless the case goes to a hearing and an ALJ finds the complaint allegations proved in a written decision and order, the allegations should be understood as allegations, not findings.
A settlement agreement or consent order can end the proceeding without an admission of the alleged conduct. This page therefore separates what the Coast Guard alleged from what an ALJ, Commandant appeal decision, default order, settlement order, dismissal, or other public record actually decided.
MLAA builds these pages from public Coast Guard ALJ docket data, official Coast Guard source documents, preserved docket-source proof, and available orders or decisions. We preserve source records where we can, label allegations as allegations, avoid treating docket categories as factual findings, and invite source-backed corrections when a record needs to be fixed.
Media Coverage
MLAA profile based on Coast Guard S&R investigation records and FOIA-obtained victim and witness statements.
MLAA reporting on the Irvin settlement agreement and Coast Guard S&R sanction.
FOIA-obtained letter requesting a Coast Guard investigation into Irvin.
FOIA-obtained victim statement published by MLAA with redactions to protect identity.
MLAA reporting on how the Coast Guard investigation developed and the role of Coast Guard officer Jennifer Williams.
Suggest a Correction
MLAA builds this docket from public records and source documents. If a name, date, docket number, summary, or document link appears wrong, please send us the correction and any source that helps verify it.