SMOKE RISES FROM A DRY DOCK as fire crews respond to a fire on the USS Miami submarine ( SSN 755) at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on an island, in Kittery, in this May 23, 2012 file photo. Casey Fury, who is serving 17 years in prison for the fire, says he made a false confession under the threat of a life sentence. He says his confession was false and coerced and wants to ask a judge to reconsider his sentence. The fire caused $700 million in damage and the attack submarine was ultimately scrapped.

SMOKE RISES FROM A DRY DOCK as fire crews respond to a fire on the USS Miami submarine ( SSN 755) at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on an island, in Kittery, in this May 23, 2012 file photo. Casey Fury, who is serving 17 years in prison for the fire, says he made a false confession under the threat of a life sentence. He says his confession was false and coerced and wants to ask a judge to reconsider his sentence. The fire caused $700 million in damage and the attack submarine was ultimately scrapped.

KITTERY

The New Hampshire man who pleaded guilty to setting fire to a nuclear-powered submarine but now says he doesn’t think he did it has until June 5 to keep his appeal alive.

A federal magistrate a month ago rejected Casey James’ claim of ineffective counsel.

Fury told the Portsmouth Herald that he believes his confession was coerced and says he doesn’t remember setting the fire that damaged the USS Miami at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard so badly that it’s being scrapped.

He says he wants a judge to reconsider his sentence based on claims including substance abuse and mental health problems that he says weren’t adequately addressed by his lawyer.

He’s serving a 17-year sentence at a federal prison in New Jersey after pleading guilty. His lawyer is declin-


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