ghost ship Archives

Derick Almena, the main tenant of the Oakland, California dilapidated warehouse known as the Ghost Ship, which served as an art collective and where he'd rent out space to artists, pleaded guilty to 36 charges of involuntary manslaughter on Friday, KTVU reports. The guilty plea means that Almena will avoid a second criminal trial related to the December 2016 fire that killed 36 in one of the deadliest club fires in American history. As part of the plea agreement, Almena will face between 9 and 12 years in jail. He already has served two years. The previous criminal case against Almena resulted in a mistrial last October. Almena’s co-defendant Max Harris was acquitted of all charges. Both men faced 36 charges of involuntary manslaughter and a maximum of 39 years in prison. Both pleaded no contest in July 2018 in a deal that would have given Almena 9 years in prison and Harris 6 years in prison, but a judge rejected the agreement after victims’ families criticized the sentences as too lenient. Last summer, the city of Oakland settled a civil suit with the victims' families for nearly $33 million. The fire happened during a dance party for the 100% Silk record label on Dec. 2, 2016 at a commercially permitted warehouse that Almena was accused of illegally converting into a ramshackle live-work space for artists. Electricity was reportedly wired into the building from an adjacent auto shop and a staircase was built out of wooden palettes. Prosecutors described the space as a “death trap” and alleged that Almena failed to provide smoke detectors, fire alarms, sprinklers, and other required safety equipment. The building’s landlord claimed they did not know anyone was living inside.

ghost ship

Ghost Ship Fire Main Tenant Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

City of Oakland Settles Ghost Ship Fire Civil Suit for Nearly $33 Million

Maybe the Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire Shouldn’t Be Adapted Into a TV Series [UPDATE]

Ghost Ship Jury Acquits One Man, Can’t Reach Verdict on Warehouse Operator

Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire Trial: No One Was In Charge, Defendant Says

Ghost Ship Defendants to Accept Plea Deal for Less Than 10 Years in Prison: Report

100% Silk Announces Benefit Album on Anniversary of Ghost Ship Fire

Report: Ghost Ship Warehouse Owner Set to Receive $3 Million Insurance Payout from Deadly Fire

Ghost Fire Trial: Defendants Plead Not Guilty to 36 Charges of Manslaughter

Ghost Ship Organizers Reportedly Arrested on 36 Counts of Manslaughter

Oakland Police Quickly Retract Order Requiring Warehouse Parties to Be Reported

100% Silk Reissues Tapes by Cherushii and Nackt, Artists Killed in Ghost Ship Fire

New York’s DIY Scene Fights for Survival After Deadly Oakland Fire

Oakland Mayor Announces Protections for Tenants at DIY Spaces Following Ghost Ship Fire

YACHT, Owen Pallett, Helado Negro, More Contribute to Lives Through Magic Compilation Benefitting Ghost Ship Fire Victims

Ghost Ship Victims’ Families Sue Landlord, Managers, Local Government, and Others

Oakland DJ Nackt, Who Died in Ghost Ship Fire, to Get Posthumous EP Release

Green Day Pays Tribute to Ghost Ship Fire Victims at Oakland Show

Oakland Mayor Announces $1.7 Million for Affordable Arts Spaces in Wake of Warehouse Fire

Following Oakland Fire, Baltimore Fire Department Suddenly Shuts Down DIY Art Space

“What Do You Want Me to Say?” Manager of Oakland Fire Building Asks in Intense Interview on Today

Oakland Warehouse Fire Death Toll at 36 as Harrowing First-Hand Accounts From Survivors Emerge

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