JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A state agency has responded to the removal of a derelict vessel on Jacksonville Beach on Jan. 2 and the charge and costly fine he faces.
John Lucas Rehberg, the owner of the boat, says his engine failed and his anchor broke in late October.
Rehberg was arrested Dec. 13 for abandoning a derelict vessel and had a warrant issued for an expired registration and failing to transfer the boat's title.
He said couldn't afford to have it towed off the beach. Community members started a GoFundMe page for Rehberg and raised half the money required for the tow.
Rehberg did not remove his vessel from the beach by a deadline of Nov. 17. The boat was approved for removal on Nov. 27 and its removal project was initiated by the state as an FWC Direct Rapid Removal Project more than a month later.
The project was awarded to Salonen Marine and removed from the beach on Jan. 2 for $28,530.
Rehberg said he plans to use the GoFundMe money to pay fees to the FWC.
"I'm still expecting that $20,000 bill to come in the mail when they remove the boat and they pay their high-dollar, super-insured contractor to get it off the beach," Rehberg told First Coast News.