Judge rejects plea deals in deadly Oakland warehouse fire
Source: Associated Press
Paul Elias and Michael Balsamo, Associated Press
Updated 6:52 pm CDT, Friday, August 10, 2018
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In an unusual move, a California judge on Friday rejected the plea deals of two men who were charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter after a 2016 California warehouse fire.
As he handed down his decision, Judge James 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."
The plea deal had called for Almena to be sentenced to nine years in prison and 28-year-old Max Harris to six years. The judge said he found Harris to be sincere but because the plea bargain was for both Harris and Almena, both pleas were rejected.
In court on Friday, Harris apologized to the families of the victims for his actions but told them he didn't expect forgiveness.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Judge-set-to-sentence-men-in-deadly-Oakland-13146027.php
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