Derick Almena, the former master tenant of San Francisco Bay Area warehouse and event space Ghost Ship, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to 36 charges of involuntary manslaughter. Almena, 50, pleaded guilty in January following a devastating fire during an event at Ghost Ship in December 2016 that killed 36 people.
On Monday, 8th March, Almena was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but he is unlikely to spend any more time in jail. He was removed from jail last year due to coronavirus concerns, and has been under house arrest since. Because he received credit for good behaviour and time already served, it is likely that Almena will only serve another 18 months. These will be served at home while wearing an electronic ankle monitor, and will be followed by three years probation.
Ghost Ship defendant Derick Almena to serve the remainder of his sentence from home
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A courtroom sketch of the Derick Almena, top left, as he answers questions from his Defense Attorney Tony Serra, top center, as Judge Trina Thompson, top right, listens on at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 8, 2019. Almena faces involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from the 2016 Ghost Ship blaze that killed 36 people during a music show. Seated in the foreground from left is Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Autrey James, Alameda County assistant district attorney Casey Bates, Attorney Curts Briggs, and Defendant Max Harris. Almena will serve the remainder of his sentence from home, Judge Thompson ruled on Monday, March 8, 2021.Vicki Behringer / Special to The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
Derick Almena pleaded guilty to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter as part of a plea deal that victims' families said was shocking and disappointing.
Derick Almena Pleads Guilty To Deaths Of 36 People In Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire
A fire broke out at the warehouse during an electronic music and dance party and spread quickly, trapping victims on the illegally constructed second floor. AP Photo Associated Press (AP) 2021-01-23T08:58:23+05:30 Derick Almena Pleads Guilty To Deaths Of 36 People In Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire outlookindia.com 2021-01-23T09:00:30+05:30
The master tenant of a San Francisco Bay Area warehouse where 36 people perished when a fire ignited during a dance party in 2016 pleaded guilty Friday to the deaths, avoiding a second trial after the first ended in a hung jury.
Some relatives of those killed in the Oakland warehouse fire in 2016 said they were outraged that prosecutors had a deal with the defendant that they said would allow him to avoid additional time behind bars.