DAPHNE, Ala. — Thursday afternoon a jury in Shalimar found Augusta “Gus” Frederick Kennedy, 48, of Destin, Fla., guilty on three counts of boating-under-the-influence manslaughter after deliberating for only one hour. 

Kennedy was charged in the deadly boat crash off Okaloosa Island near Brooks Bridge on Sept. 4, 2009. His blood alcohol levels at the scene were 0.192 and 0.194, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  The legal blood alcohol level is 0.08.

Kennedy was operating an 18-foot Bayliner when it crashed into a boat being operated by William Brenner, 56, of Daphne. The collision resulted in the deaths of George Brenner, 79, and Donna Brenner, 78, of Mobile and Jeane Crowson, 70, of San Antonio, Texas.     

The BUI manslaughter conviction, a second-degree felony, can result in a maximum of 60 years in prison. Circuit Court Judge John Brown presided.