The lawyers and wife of a man charged with an Oakland warehouse fire are appealing to the public. They say 47-year-old Derick Almena is a good man, and that he is mentally devastated by the charges.
A six-month investigation led police to believe the warehouse was illegally converted and fire safety was lacking.
On Dec. 2, Almena hosted an illegal party at the warehouse. Thirty-six people died in the ensuing fire. Almena’s lawyer said public agencies are to blame for not monitoring building safety.
Another man, 27-year-old Max Harris, is also facing charges. Harris worked with Almena to manage the property.
