The sailor who went missing on the cruiser Shiloh this month, sparking a massive at-sea search before he was allegedly found hiding on board, was transferred from the brig at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Monday, Navy officials said.



Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Peter Mims has been temporarily assigned to Naval Surface Forces at U.S. Pacific Fleet in San Diego while awaiting the results of the investigation, according to officials.



He was moved out of the brig after a hearing where an independent officer ruled that confinement was not necessary, 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Paul Newell said.



Mims, who could not be reached for comment, was reported missing June 8 and later presumed overboard and dead, sparking a 50-hour search-and-rescue attempt involving several ships, aircraft and the carrier Ronald Reagan.





The 23-year-old Florida native was found hiding in an engineering space aboard the Shiloh a week later and was moved to the brig on June 21, according to Navy officials.

Joseph Jordan, a former Army attorney now in private practice, said troops can only be held in pre-trial confinement if they are deemed a flight risk, a danger to the community or the unit has already tried lesser forms of restraint — including sign-in requirements or being restricted to the base, he said.

If Mims is convicted in a court-martial, he could receive credit for days served in the brig or from when he was placed on a lesser form of restraint, Jordan said.

Either way, Jordan said the Navy now has 120 days from the date of this week's transfer to try Mims.

That 120-day countdown started when the sea service placed Mims in pre-trial confinement. If they had not placed him in the brig, that countdown would not have begun, Jordan said.

Navy officials said last week that the investigation into Mims’ alleged hiding will likely last through the summer.

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"The clock is running," Jordan said.

Geoff Ziezulewicz covers the Navy for the Military Times. Contact him with tips and feedback at geoffz@miltarytimes.com, or on Twitter at @JournoGeoffZ.