CA - Massive Fire at Oakland Warehouse Party - 36 Dead - 2 Dec 2016 #4 *Guilty*

[Niner]

Tuesday, February 7th:
*Hearing (Determination of Restitution) (@ 9am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people: Cash Askew, 22, Em B (Em Bohlka), 33, Jonathan Bernbaum, 34, Barrett Clark, 35, David Cline, 24, Micah Danemayer, 28, Billy Dixon, 35, Chelsea Dolan, 33, Alex Ghassan, 35, Nick Gomez-Hall, 25, Michela Gregory, 20, Sara Hoda, 30, Travis Hough, 35, Johnny Igaz, 34, Ara Jo, 29, Donna Kellogg, 32, Amanda Kershaw, 34, Edmond Lapine, 34, Griffin Madden, 23, Joseph Matlock, 36, Jason McCarty, 36, Draven McGill, 17, Jennifer Mendiola, 35, Jennifer Morris, 21, Feral Pines, 29, Vanessa Plotkin, 21, Wolfgang Renner, 61, Hanna Ruax, 32, Benjamin Runnels, 32, Nicole Siegrist, 29, Michele Sylvan, 37, Jennifer Kiyomi Tanouye, 31, Alex Vega, 22, Peter Wadsworth, 38, Nick Walrath, 31, and Brandon Chase Wittenauer, 32. – for *Derick Ion Almena (47/now 52) charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter. Plead not guilty. Almena remains in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond (was $1.8M reduced on 8/4/17) & reduced (4/17/20) to $150K bond and face up to 39 years in prison if convicted. Posted bond & released (5/4/20) due to COVID19.
Trial (retrial) was set to begin on 7/6/20 rescheduled to 10/5/20 or if COVID-19 pandemic causes delay scheduled for 2/22/21 & rescheduled for 4/2/21. (Almena-Hung jury & Max Harris was acquitted (9/5/19) of all charges). Trial was cancelled due to a guilty plea on 3/8/21 to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter. As part of the plea deal, Almena is expected to receive a 12-year sentence. But because of his time served, he will most likely not see the inside of a jail again, as he is expected to serve the rest of his sentence on an ankle monitor at home. After he serves that sentence, Almena will then enters a period of three years of supervised release.
Court info from 10/7/19 thru 9/16/22 reference post #13 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-warehouse-party-36-dead-2-dec-2016-4.637051/
10/14/22 Update: Next hearing after revocation of probation on 12/16/22. 12/16/22 Update: Hearing Determination of restitution on 2/7/23.

 

[Niner]

@MsMarple - any news on Almena's restitution hearing from Monday? I am only getting old 2021 articles here.

TIA!

 

[MsMarple]

@MsMarple - any news on Almena's restitution hearing from Monday? I am only getting old 2021 articles here.

TIA!

Looks like it’s been rescheduled:

Alameda Superior Court - Criminal Case Portal

publicportal.alameda.courts.ca.gov

17-CR-017349B

ALMENA, DERICK ION

Case Type Felony

Date / Time 4/4/2023 8:30 AM

Hearing Type Determination of Restitution Hearing

Judge

Courtroom Department 711

Case Category

 

[Niner]

Looks like it’s been rescheduled:

Alameda Superior Court - Criminal Case Portal

publicportal.alameda.courts.ca.gov

17-CR-017349B

ALMENA, DERICK ION

Case Type Felony

Date / Time 4/4/2023 8:30 AM

Hearing Type Determination of Restitution Hearing

Judge

Courtroom Department 711

Case Category

Thank you!

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, April 4th:
*Determination of Restitution Hearing (@ 8:30aam PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people: Cash Askew, 22, Em B (Em Bohlka), 33, Jonathan Bernbaum, 34, Barrett Clark, 35, David Cline, 24, Micah Danemayer, 28, Billy Dixon, 35, Chelsea Dolan, 33, Alex Ghassan, 35, Nick Gomez-Hall, 25, Michela Gregory, 20, Sara Hoda, 30, Travis Hough, 35, Johnny Igaz, 34, Ara Jo, 29, Donna Kellogg, 32, Amanda Kershaw, 34, Edmond Lapine, 34, Griffin Madden, 23, Joseph Matlock, 36, Jason McCarty, 36, Draven McGill, 17, Jennifer Mendiola, 35, Jennifer Morris, 21, Feral Pines, 29, Vanessa Plotkin, 21, Wolfgang Renner, 61, Hanna Ruax, 32, Benjamin Runnels, 32, Nicole Siegrist, 29, Michele Sylvan, 37, Jennifer Kiyomi Tanouye, 31, Alex Vega, 22, Peter Wadsworth, 38, Nick Walrath, 31, and Brandon Chase Wittenauer, 32. – for *Derick Ion Almena (47/now 52) charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter. Plead not guilty. Almena remains in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond (was $1.8M reduced on 8/4/17) & reduced (4/17/20) to $150K bond & face up to 39 years in prison if convicted. Posted bond & released (5/4/20) due to COVID19.
Trial (retrial) was set to begin on 7/6/20 rescheduled to 10/5/20 or if COVID-19 pandemic causes delay scheduled for 2/22/21 & rescheduled or 4/2/21. (Verdict: Almena-Hung jury & Max Harris was acquitted (9/5/19) of all charges). Trial was cancelled due to a guilty plea on 3/8/21 to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter. As part of the plea deal, Almena is expected to receive a 12-year sentence. But because of his time served, he will most likely not see the inside of a jail again, as he is expected to serve the rest of his sentence on an ankle monitor at home. After he serves that sentence, Almena will then enters a period of three years of supervised release. Also was ordered to pay about $181K in restitution for funeral expenses & counseling for the victims’ families.
Court info from 10/7/19 thru 9/16/22 reference post #13 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-warehouse-party-36-dead-2-dec-2016-4.637051/
10/14/22 Update: Next hearing after revocation of probation on 12/16/22. 12/16/22 Update: Hearing Determination of restitution on 2/7/23.
2/7/23 Update: Hearing for determination of restitution was rescheduled on 4/4/23.

 

[MsMarple]

Still on.

Alameda Superior Court - Criminal Case Portal

publicportal.alameda.courts.ca.gov

17-CR-017349B

ALMENA, DERICK ION

Case Type Felony

Date / Time 4/4/2023 8:30 AM

Hearing Type Determination of Restitution Hearing

Judge Hing, Stuart

Courtroom Department 711

Case Catego

 

[MsMarple]

Huh? Another hearing set but it’s just labeled “felony.” I haven’t found anything in msm yet.

17-CR-017349B

ALMENA, DERICK ION

Case Type Felony

Date / Time 5/23/2023 9:00 AM

Hearing Type Hearing

Judge

Courtroom Department 711

Case Category

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, May 23rd:
*Hearing (@ 9am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people: Cash Askew, 22, Em B (Em Bohlka), 33, Jonathan Bernbaum, 34, Barrett Clark, 35, David Cline, 24, Micah Danemayer, 28, Billy Dixon, 35, Chelsea Dolan, 33, Alex Ghassan, 35, Nick Gomez-Hall, 25, Michela Gregory, 20, Sara Hoda, 30, Travis Hough, 35, Johnny Igaz, 34, Ara Jo, 29, Donna Kellogg, 32, Amanda Kershaw, 34, Edmond Lapine, 34, Griffin Madden, 23, Joseph Matlock, 36, Jason McCarty, 36, Draven McGill, 17, Jennifer Mendiola, 35, Jennifer Morris, 21, Feral Pines, 29, Vanessa Plotkin, 21, Wolfgang Renner, 61, Hanna Ruax, 32, Benjamin Runnels, 32, Nicole Siegrist, 29, Michele Sylvan, 37, Jennifer Kiyomi Tanouye, 31, Alex Vega, 22, Peter Wadsworth, 38, Nick Walrath, 31, and Brandon Chase Wittenauer, 32. – for *Derick Ion Almena (47/now 52) charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter. Plead not guilty. Almena remains in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond (was $1.8M reduced on 8/4/17) & reduced (4/17/20) to $150K bond & face up to 39 years in prison if convicted. Posted bond & released (5/4/20) due to COVID19.
Trial (retrial) was set to begin on 7/6/20 rescheduled to 10/5/20 or if COVID-19 pandemic causes delay scheduled for 2/22/21 & rescheduled for 4/2/21. (Verdict: Almena-Hung jury & Max Harris was acquitted (9/5/19) of all charges). Trial was cancelled due to a guilty plea on 3/8/21 to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter. As part of the plea deal, Almena is expected to receive a 12-year sentence. But because of his time served, he will most likely not see the inside of a jail again, as he is expected to serve the rest of his sentence on an ankle monitor at home. After he serves that sentence, Almena will then enters a period of three years of supervised release. Also was ordered to pay about $181K in restitution for funeral expenses & counseling for the victims’ families.
Court info from 10/7/19 thru 12/16/22 reference post #25 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ouse-party-36-dead-2-dec-2016-4.637051/page-2
2/7/23 Update: Hearing for determination of restitution was rescheduled on 4/4/23. 4/4/23 Update: Next hearing on 5/23/23.

 

[LinasK]

Ghost Ship artist warehouse where dozens died in fire razed. What will happen to the site?

New owners say they will have a community process for determining what’s next for the Ghost Ship site, but the expectation is it will include low-cost housing and a memorial to those lost.

www.mercurynews.com

 

[Niner]

@MsMarple or anyone reading here - is there an update on the hearing for Almena?

I tried searching for it in the above article - but came up with nothing.

TIA if anyone finds anything!

 

[MsMarple]

I can’t find any updates or results. I’ll keep looking.

Alameda Superior Court - Criminal Case Portal

publicportal.alameda.courts.ca.gov

Hearing Search Results​

Hearings for Party Name Derick Almena
between 5/26/2023 and 9/30/2023
No hearings match your search.

 

[MsMarple]

I think restitution was finalized back in 2021 when Almena was ordered to pay 209k in restitution. Maybe the recent hearings were about claims that he’s destitute or something? And what the heck was that May 23 “felony” hearing?

Not a peep in msm that I could find and no future hearings scheduled for Almena. I guess he’s old news.

From 2021:
At a Friday morning court hearing, master tenant Derick Almena was ordered to pay $209,000 in restitution, which comes out to about $5,800 for each of the 36 fire victims. The remaining $5.6 million was split between attorney fees and other court costs, according to an Alameda County District Attorney spokeswoman.

Ghost Ship criminal case ends with restitution order: Victims’ families ordered to receive $5,800 each, but are doubtful they’ll ever see the money

Derick Almena was ordered to pay $5.8 million in restitution, but only $209,000 total for the 36 families of victims.

www.mercurynews.com

 

[Niner]

I think restitution was finalized back in 2021 when Almena was ordered to pay 209k in restitution. Maybe the recent hearings were about claims that he’s destitute or something? And what the heck was that May 23 “felony” hearing?

Not a peep in msm that I could find and no future hearings scheduled for Almena. I guess he’s old news.

From 2021:
At a Friday morning court hearing, master tenant Derick Almena was ordered to pay $209,000 in restitution, which comes out to about $5,800 for each of the 36 fire victims. The remaining $5.6 million was split between attorney fees and other court costs, according to an Alameda County District Attorney spokeswoman.

Ghost Ship criminal case ends with restitution order: Victims’ families ordered to receive $5,800 each, but are doubtful they’ll ever see the money

Derick Almena was ordered to pay $5.8 million in restitution, but only $209,000 total for the 36 families of victims.

www.mercurynews.com

Thanks a bunch for this info - if it really doesn't tell us anything!

I shall put this case in my finished pile...

And thank you for ALL the updates you have given me!

 

[MsMarple]

The Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, where 36 people died in a tragic fire in 2016, was demolished in May and could become the site of a housing complex under new developers.

The Unity Council, an Oakland-based nonprofit that was behind the creation of the nearby Fruitvale Village, a mixed-use development with retail spaces, offices and apartments, bought the warehouse property on May 12 for $2.56 million.

The nonprofit’s leaders are aiming to build housing at the site of the tragedy, but plans are not yet finalized. The earliest construction could begin is sometime in 2025.

Site of Ghost Ship warehouse fire could become housing under new developer

Oakland nonprofit the Unity Council, which has created major developments in the city, seeks to build housing at the site of the Ghost Ship tragedy.

www.sfchronicle.com

 

[Laughing]

The Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, where 36 people died in a tragic fire in 2016, was demolished in May and could become the site of a housing complex under new developers.

The Unity Council, an Oakland-based nonprofit that was behind the creation of the nearby Fruitvale Village, a mixed-use development with retail spaces, offices and apartments, bought the warehouse property on May 12 for $2.56 million.

The nonprofit’s leaders are aiming to build housing at the site of the tragedy, but plans are not yet finalized. The earliest construction could begin is sometime in 2025.

Site of Ghost Ship warehouse fire could become housing under new developer

Oakland nonprofit the Unity Council, which has created major developments in the city, seeks to build housing at the site of the Ghost Ship tragedy.

www.sfchronicle.com

Wonderful!

So we may see at least 2 good things from this horrific disaster -- appropriately developed housing and @gitana1 !

(iirc, Gitana lost an extended family member in this tragic event and then joined us here.)

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[gitana1]

Wonderful!

So we may see at least 2 good things from this horrific disaster -- appropriately developed housing and @gitana1 !

(iirc, Gitana lost an extended family member in this tragic event and then joined us here.)

jmho ymmv lrr

Thanks for remembering. I had actually been a member since 2002 or 2003 through!!

 

[Laughing]

Thanks for remembering. I had actually been a member since 2002 or 2003 through!!

Thanks for bringing the reality of the painfully individual nature of the Ghost Ship crime to our attention, and for sharing your knowledge of the law & the California court system.

Hope you are safe from the hurricane & earthquake(s) !

It's a good day to be a Midwesterner, I guess, with our measly record high temps....

jmhp ymmv lrr

 

[gitana1]

Thanks for bringing the reality of the painfully individual nature of the Ghost Ship crime to our attention, and for sharing your knowledge of the law & the California court system.

Hope you are safe from the hurricane & earthquake(s) !

It's a good day to be a Midwesterner, I guess, with our measly record high temps....

jmhp ymmv lrr

It’s mild right now. I’m in Orange County. Hardly anything happening except hype.