Magistrate recommends dismissal of sentence appeal by man who pleaded guilty to USS Miami fire

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 Fury's 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 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 declining comment.