Captain of boat that capsized near Statue of Liberty charged in deaths of mother and baby

Manuel Hernandez was charged with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death in the accident, which killed Sara Sanchez, 27, and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia.

The captain of an allegedly unlicensed boat that capsized in New York Harbor near Liberty Island over the weekend, killing a young woman and her baby, has been charged in their deaths.

Manuel Hernandez, 46, was charged Monday with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Hernandez, of Manville, New Jersey, appeared in court Monday, where he was not required to enter a plea and was released on $50,000 bail, NBC New York reported. He left with his court-appointed attorney, Amy Gallicchio, and both declined to comment, the station reported.

Gallicchio did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.

Queens resident Sara Sanchez, 27, and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, died in the tragedy Saturday evening.