Father accused of throwing son overboard denied veterans court

An Irvine man accused of throwing his son overboard during a Newport Harbor cruise has been denied access to a court program responsible for combat veterans.

Sloan Steven Briles, 35, appeared in Orange County Combat Veterans Court on Tuesday, where a judge told him that he would be tried in a civilian criminal court for the Aug. 28 incident, confirmed Orange County Superior Court spokeswoman Carole Levitzky.

The court is geared toward combat veterans who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, drug addiction or other long-term issues.

Briles’ arraignment is set for Jan. 9 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Levitzky said.

Briles is charged with felony child endangerment and misdemeanor resisting police after allegedly throwing his crying 7-year-old son off the boat, according to Daily Pilot archives.

Prosecutors claim he poked his son in the chest and slapped him before the incident.

He faces up to six years in prison if convicted.

— Sarah Peters

Twitter: @speters01