Thursday marked five years since 36 people died in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland, and families of the dead are still grieving. David Gregory wrote in
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The master tenant of the Oakland warehouse space Ghost Ship recently pleaded guilty to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter over the tragic 2016 fire that resulted in the deaths of 36 people. On Monday, Derick Almena received a 12-year sentence but is not expected to spend more time in prison, The Associated Press reports.
Almena is currently under house arrest he was released from jail last year due to coronavirus concerns. Since he received credit for time spent behind bars while awaiting trial and good behavior, he’s expected to spend one-and-a-half years at home in an ankle bracelet followed by three years of probation.
March 9, 2021
Ghost Ship defendant Derick Almena is sentenced to 12 years for his role in a deadly 2016 Oakland warehouse fire. In January, Almena plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a blaze that killed 36 people at an illegal concert. At yesterday’s sentencing, 15 family members of the victims read letters urging the judge to reject the plea deal. Defense attorney Tony Serra read a statement from Almena saying, “I am sick with shame” and “It’s my fault” that I “built a place so dangerous.” Because of time served and health risks due to COVID-19, Almena will serve the rest of his sentence at home with an ankle monitor.