Advertisement

Derick Almena

Latest Stories

FILE - This combination of June 2017 file booking photos provided by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office shows Max Harris, left, and Derick Almena, at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, Calif. A Northern California district attorney has told a judge she will no longer consider plea deals for Harris and Almena, charged in a 2016 warehouse fire that killed 36 people attending an unlicensed concert. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, a day before the two men are scheduled to return to court. (Alameda County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

Lawyers will seek to shift blame for warehouse fire at trial

By PAUL ELIAS - Associated Press

FILE - This Dec. 3, 2016 file image from video provided by KGO-TV shows the Ghost Ship Warehouse after a fire swept through the Oakland, Calif., building. A Northern California district attorney has told a judge she will no longer consider plea deals for two men charged in a 2016 warehouse fire that killed 36 people attending an unlicensed concert. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, a day before the two men are scheduled to return to court. (KGO-TV via AP, File)

AP NewsBreak: No plea deals in Oakland warehouse fire case

By PAUL ELIAS - Associated Press

FILE- This combination of file June 2017 booking photos released by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office shows Max Harris, left, and Derick Almena, at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, Calif. The two men, who accepted a deal in exchange for each pleading no contest to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in a California warehouse fire, will likely be released from prison after serving just half their sentences. A judge on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, is expected to sentence Almena to nine years in prison and Harris to six years, even though relatives of victims of the 2016 blaze in Oakland slammed the proposed sentences as too lenient. (Alameda County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

Suspect in fatal warehouse fire says he can’t get fair trial

By PAUL ELIAS - Associated Press

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the City of Oakland shows inside the burned warehouse after the deadly fire that broke out on Dec. 2, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Two men who pleaded no contest to 36 charges of involuntary manslaughter will face the family members of those who died in a fire at an illegally converted Northern California warehouse. A two-day sentencing hearing for Derick Almena and Max Harris is scheduled to begin Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Oakland. (City of Oakland via AP, File)

The Latest: Tearful warehouse fire hearing concludes for day

Associated Press

FILE - This Monday, June 5, 2017, file photo released by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office shows Derick Almena at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, Calif. A lawyer says a plea deal is near for Almena, the central figure charged in connection with the Northern California warehouse fire that killed three dozen partygoers attending an unlicensed concert. (Alameda County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

The Latest: Lawyers say plea deal reached in warehouse fire

Associated Press

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2016 file photo, Oakland fire officials walk past the remains of the Ghost Ship warehouse damaged from a deadly fire in Oakland, Calif. A lawyer says a plea deal is near for the central figure charged in connection with the Northern California warehouse fire that killed three dozen partygoers attending an unlicensed concert. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

Lawyers: Plea deal reached in Ghost Ship warehouse fire

By PAUL ELIAS - Associated Press

FILE - This Dec. 13, 2016 file photo shows flowers, pictures, signs and candles, are placed at the scene of a warehouse fire in Oakland, Calif. A former tenant of an Oakland warehouse says police were called to the unlicensed residence several times to help with evictions, and even knew the leaseholder by name. Jose Avalos, a woodworker who moved into the Ghost Ship two years before a deadly fire killed 36 partygoers a year ago, testified Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, on the second day of a preliminary hearing in Alameda County Superior Court for two men charged with involuntary manslaughter in their deaths. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Ex-tenant says police visited Oakland warehouse before fire

Associated Press

Aaron Marin leaves a courtroom during a break at a preliminary hearing for the two men charged in the blaze at the Ghost Ship warehouse Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. Marin was convinced his life was over as smoke engulfed a California warehouse in what was the country's deadliest building fire in more than a decade. Marin was the first witness called by prosecutors as they try to persuade Alameda County Judge Jeffrey Horner that defendants Derick Almena and Max Harris should stand trial on involuntary manslaughter charges. (AP Photo/Sudhin Thanawala)

The Latest: Witness says he paid rent to warehouse defendant

Associated Press

Defense attorney Tony Serra, representing Derick Almena, leaves a courtroom during a break in the preliminary hearing for the two men charged in the blaze at the Ghost Ship warehouse Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. Prosecutors say the men knowingly created a firetrap and deceived the building's owner, police and fire officials about people living there. The two have pleaded not guilty and say they are being scapegoated.(AP Photo/Sudhin Thanawala)

Witness recalls escape from Oakland warehouse during fire

By SUDHIN THANAWALA - Associated Press

Hearing postponed for 2 men charged in warehouse blaze

Associated Press

FILE- This Dec. 3, 2016 file image from video provided by KGO-TV shows the Ghost Ship Warehouse after a fire swept through the Oakland, Calif., building. Derick Almena, blamed for the nation's deadliest structure fire in more than 14 years, tells KTVU-TV in a jailhouse interview airing Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, that the building’s owner shares responsibility for the deaths. He says owner Chor Ng he planned to use the warehouse as an arts space and community center and that she knew people would be coming in and out (KGO-TV via AP, File)

Deadly warehouse fire suspect says landlord also responsible

Associated Press

California judge lowers bail for man charged in Oakland fire

Associated Press

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the City of Oakland shows inside the burned warehouse after the deadly fire that broke out on Dec. 2, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Two men charged with involuntary manslaughter for the Oakland warehouse fire that killed 36 people are seeking their release from jail on bail. Derick Almena and Max Harris have been jailed without bail since their arrest in June, on 36 charges of involuntary manslaughter. Both are also scheduled to enter pleas at their court hearing on Friday, July 28, 2017. (City of Oakland via AP, File)

The Latest: Judge lowers bail for 1 charged in Oakland fire

Associated Press

FILE - This Monday, June 5, 2017, file photo released by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office shows Derick Almena at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, Calif. The man blamed for the nation's deadliest structure fire in more than 14 years will be arraigned in Northern California on 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Almena is scheduled to enter a plea Thursday, June 8, 2017. (Alameda County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

The Latest: Suspect in 36 fire deaths appears in court

Associated Press

FILE - This Monday, June 5, 2017, file photo released by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office shows Derick Almena at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, Calif. The man blamed for the nation's deadliest structure fire in more than 14 years will be arraigned in Northern California on 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Almena is scheduled to enter a plea Thursday, June 8, 2017. (Alameda County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

Man appears in court over deadly Oakland warehouse fire

By PAUL ELIAS - Associated Press

File - In this Dec. 3, 2016 file image from video provided by KGO-TV shows the Ghost Ship Warehouse after a fire swept through the Oakland, Calif., building. A source close to the investigation tells The Associated Press Monday, June 5, 2017, that two men have been arrested and will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire that killed 36 partygoers. (KGO-TV via AP, File)

Lawyer says families pleased with charges for warehouse fire

Associated Press

File - In this Dec. 3, 2016 file image from video provided by KGO-TV shows the Ghost Ship Warehouse after a fire swept through the Oakland, Calif., building. A source close to the investigation tells The Associated Press Monday, June 5, 2017, that two men have been arrested and will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire that killed 36 partygoers. (KGO-TV via AP, File)

Men charged in 36 deaths at ramshackle Oakland warehouse

By PAUL ELIAS - Associated Press