Friday, August 17th:
*Hearing for both (@ PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - Derick Ion Almena (47), and Max Harris (27), charged with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Almena will testify in his own defense per his attorneys. Maybe a plea deal in the works. Trial was to start July 16th.
6/30/18 Update: Plea deal in the works – Judge Morris Jacobson ordered everyone to return to court to conclude any pretrial; returning on July 3rd. Both defendants had tentatively agreed to an 8-year prison sentence.
7/1/18 Update: a plea agreement was reached in the matter of People v. Max Harris and Derick Almena. Both Defendant’s will enter pleas of “no contest” and be found guilty of 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Defendant Max Harris will receive a term of six (6) years in the local prison, while Defendant Derick Almena will receive a term of nine (9) years in local prison. At the hearing on Tuesday, July 3, another date will be set 1-2 months out for the sentencing of both Defendants.
7/3/18 Update: Two men pleaded no contest Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter charges in the Oakland Ghost Ship fire case, averting what would have been a protracted, high-profile jury trial in favor of a deal with prosecutors. The no-contest pleas resulted in convictions on all 36 counts. Almena, 48, will receive a 9-year sentence in county jail and three years of mandatory supervised release under the deal. Harris, 28, agreed to a 6-year sentence and four years of mandatory supervision. With good behavior, they can each serve half their jail terms. The defendants will be formally sentenced during a two-day hearing on Aug. 9 and 10. With time served, Almena could be released in 3½ years and Harris in less than two years.
8/9/18 Update: Their plea agreement calls for Almena to serve 9 years in jail and Harris to serve 6 years. But their attorneys say that because of the credits the two men have already accumulated since being arrested in June 2017 they expect Almena to be released in three and a half years and Harris to be released in about 22 months. Judge James Cramer is substituting at the unusually lengthy sentencing hearing, which is expected to conclude on Friday. When the hearing resumes on Friday morning Serra and Briggs will make statements on behalf of their clients and Almena and Harris are also expected to speak.
8/10/18 Update: Judge James Cramer on Friday rejected the plea deals of two men who were charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter after a 2016 California warehouse fire. In handing down his decision, Judge Cramer said 48-year-old Derick Almena didn't accept "full responsibility and remorse" for the fatal blaze which occurred during an unlicensed concert at the dilapidated Oakland warehouse known as the "Ghost Ship." Ruling also dissolves the plea agreement the district attorney’s office made with co-defendant Max Harris, 28, because the deals were done as a package. The move paves the way for a jury trial for Almena and Harris, unless a new deal can be reached. No further dates available.
8/12/18 Update: The Judge ordered the parties in the case to return to court next Friday (8/17), at which time another possible plea agreement could be discussed or a trial date could be set. There is a possibility that Harris, who he admitted played a lesser role in the fire, could negotiate a plea agreement on his own and Almena would then stand trial by himself.
