Ex-sea captain accused of raping Merchant Marine cadet in 2019 finally heads to NYC trial

An accused sicko cargo-ship captain who allegedly drugged and raped a Merchant Marine Academy cadet during a 2019 work-study program is finally headed to trial in Brooklyn.

Opening statements are set to start Wednesday in the trial of John Merrone, who nearly spilled out of his wheelchair headed to court for pre-trial proceedings Tuesday.

The former captain of the American-flagged cargo ship Liberty Glory faces charges of aggravated sexual abuse and other sex crimes for allegedly raping a female cadet after he spiked her drink aboard the vessel Sept. 9, 2019, Brooklyn federal prosecutors have said.

Merrone of South Carolina invited the woman up to his stateroom to have a “soda” — a code name for booze since alcohol was banned on the ship — before he served her and another woman a drink from an already opened bottle, according to authorities.

The victim, referred to as Jane Doe #1 in court papers, woke up in her room the next morning wearing only a shirt and bra but said she had a recollection of the evening before, officials said.

She later confronted Merrone about what happened, and the creep admitted that he had “fun last night” — while the victim said she had not consented to the encounter, according to authorities.

His trial is expected to last two weeks.

Merrone faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on the top charge.