The captain of the duck boat that sank on a Missouri lake in July was charged Thursday on 17 counts, one count for each passenger who died….

51-year-old Kenneth Scott McKee is charged with misconduct, negligence and inattention… The indictment states that McKee failed to properly assess the severe weather or instruct passengers to use personal flotation devices… (SOUNDBITE) TIM GARRISON, U.S. ATTORNEY, MISSOURI WESTERN DISTRICT SAYING: "Mr. McKee operated this particular vessel under conditions which exceeded those for which this vehicle was able to withstand." (SOUNDBITE) TIA COLEMAN, VICTIM, SAYING: "Finally I said 'Lord just let me die.

Just let me die.'

I said- I can't keep drowning, I just can't keep drowning, and that's how I felt.

On July 19th, 31 passengers were aboard the World-War-Two style duck boat on Table Rock Lake when hurricane-strength winds swept in, churning up the water and sinking the craft.

Tia Coleman lost her husband, three children and five other family members.

(SOUNDBITE) TIA COLEMAN, VICTIM, SAYING: "My family meant everything to me..

It's just a house, not a home anymore" The tour operator Ripley Entertainment, which operates under the name Ride the Ducks, is being sued by families of four people who died… McKee, who is not yet in custody, faces up to 10 years in federal prison without parole for each count and a $250,000 dollar fine…