Image for representation purposes only A former cargo ship captain pleaded guilty on Wednesday to drugging and raping a United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadet while she was undergoing sea training aboard a commercial vessel, ending a federal trial before opening statements began. John Merrone, 54, admitted in a Brooklyn federal court that he gave the 21-year-old cadet an intoxicant without her knowledge or consent before sexually assaulting her in September 2019 aboard the Liberty Glory, which was sailing from Bahrain to Corpus Christi, Texas. The guilty plea came after two days of jury selection, with the victim, identified in court as Jane Doe, expected to be the first witness. “Jane drank alcohol, I knowingly gave her an intoxicant without her knowledge or consent. Jane became incapacitated. I then had sex with her without her consent,” Merrone told the court. He pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and three counts of abusive sexual contact. Merrone remains free on a $200,000 bond and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 22. Prosecutors said he faces a possible life sentence, with sentencing guidelines estimated at between 188 and 235 months in prison. The incident took place on Sept. 9, 2019, when the cadet was undergoing practical training aboard a U.S.-flag merchant vessel as part of the USMMA Sea Year programme. According to prosecutors, Merrone, who was then the ship’s captain and highest-ranking officer, invited Jane Doe and another female cadet to his stateroom for a “soda.” Instead, he served them alcoholic drinks from an open bottle. Both women lost memory of the rest of the evening after consuming the drinks. Jane Doe woke up the following morning in her cabin wearing only a shirt and bra, without her underwear or pants. She felt nauseous, had a headache and believed she had been sexually assaulted, according to court documents. Prosecutors said Merrone later called her back to his stateroom