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Two men associated with a warehouse fire in Oakland, California, who killed 36 people nearly two years ago, did not contest Tuesday's manslaughter and will face to several years in prison, according to prosecutors. which was illegally occupied and often called the ghost ship, became the site of one of the nation's deadliest fires in December 2016. Most of the victims were attending a party on the second floor and were unable to attend. Escape on an improvised staircase.
About six months later, the authorities arrested and charged the two men – Derick Almena, the tenant, and Max Harris, who helped him in a supervisory role in the building – in connection with the incident. fire, alleging that they knowingly created a fire trap with what prosecutors said was an "inadequate means of escape."
Teresa Drenick, a deputy district attorney for the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, said Tuesday that the men, who each pleaded not guilty to 36 counts of manslaughter, should to be sentenced on 9 August. Mr Almena, she said, should be sentenced to nine years in prison and three years of Liberation surveillance; Harris should be sentenced to six years in prison and four years of probation.
If the case had been tried, the two men would have been sentenced to a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 35 years , said Mrs. Drenick
. 36 men and women, "she said." With the pleas of today, not only are both taking their responsibilities, but they are now being convicted of 36. charge leaders. "
As a senior tenant, Mr. Almena had a management role among warehouse residents who were artists seeking affordable space in a city that saw sharply increase housing costs in recent years.Mr. Harris was responsible for letting the warehouse floor for the December 2016 holiday and prepared the space for the l & rsquo; Event, according to court documents.
On the night of December 2, the warehouse – filled with wooden antiques and curiosities – was quickly engulfed in the flames and filled with fire. a thick and stuffy smoke that is mounted on the second floor. of the Court, Mr. Almena collected "fencing boards, shingles, window frames, wooden carvings, tapestries, pianos, organs" and other "dilapidated pieces" that served to light the fire. And, while preparing for the party, Mr. Harris had "blocked an area on the second floor that included a second stairwell, which actually reduced the guests to the one – point floor. escape, "according to the documents.
report, published in June of last year and compiled by local and federal agencies, provided many details about the fire, but did not identify a cause, The East Bay Times reported.
The party was also held without a city permit.
Counsel for Mr. Almena, 48, and Mr. Harris, 28 did not immediately respond to telephone messages requesting comment on Tuesday. But after Tuesday's hearing, Tony Serra, Mr. Almena's lawyer, said his client had written his plea as "a moral imperative to eliminate all the drama and pain and the suffering, "according to The East Bay Times
. Harris' lawyer, Curtis Briggs, said, "The city of Oakland has botched the whole situation." (The fire has highlighted the failures of the fire inspection system.) Oakland and the lack of affordable housing.)
Family members of those who were killed expressed their dismay about the outcome of the case. A mother told The East Bay Times that she thought it was as if the attorneys wanted to "put the person away" in order to deal with other cases
" That's 36 lives, you know, "said David Gregory, the father of a 20-year-old victim, Michela Gregory, according to the Associated Press. "We wanted fair justice and we did not understand."
Drenick stated that his office had "never lost sight of the tragedy and its impact on family and friends," noting that California law allowed victims to make statements when sentenced
] Melissa Gomez and Thomas Fuller. Stevens on Twitter: @ByMattStevens .
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