Two men have pleaded not guilty in connection with a fire that killed 36 people in an illegally converted Northern California warehouse.
Derick Almena and Max Harris entered pleas Wednesday to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter each.
Prosecutors say the two men turned the Oakland warehouse into a deathtrap when they turned it into a housing and entertainment venue.
The 47-year-old Almena leased the warehouse, and prosecutors say 27-year-old Harris helped rent living space and organize for-profit concerts.
Both men lived in the warehouse along with several other tenants when a fire engulfed the structure in December during a musical performance that dozens attended.
The suspects’ lawyers say the responsibility for the fire should be determined with lawsuits in civil court rather than with criminal charges.
Related:
- Lawyer Argues Deadly Oakland Fire Wrongly Blamed on Client
- Families of Victims Pack Court to See Man Changed in Deadly Oakland Warehouse Fire
- Utility Sued by Relatives of Oakland Warehouse Fire Victims
- Families of Oakland Warehouse Fire Victims Sue
- Oakland Fire Captain Recommended Building Be Shut Down in January
- The Similarities Between 2 Deadly Oakland Fires Are Striking
Topics California
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Trump’s Repeal of Climate Rule Opens a ‘New Front’ for Litigation 
AIG’s Zaffino: Outcomes From AI Use Went From ‘Aspirational’ to ‘Beyond Expectations’ 
Q4 Global Commercial Insurance Rates Drop 4%, in 6th Quarterly Decline: Marsh 
‘Structural Shift’ Occurring in California Surplus Lines 
