Ghost Ship warehouse operator headed back to courtGhostship

Ghost Ship warehouse operator headed back to court

In 2016, an Oakland warehouse, known as the Ghost Ship, suffered a devastating fire during a music event that ended in the tragic loss of 36 lives. Derick Almena, the man in charge of running and operating the Ghost Ship is being retried in an effort to find a guilty party.

A jury previously was not able to reach a verdict on Almena’s charges, while his counterpart and creative director Max Harris was acquitted of all charges. Almena is going to be tried on multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter after a judge rejected his plea deal of no contest in exchange for a sentence of 10 years or less.

The judge who wants to see Almena back in court claims there was a general lack of remorse from the warehouse manager surrounding the horrific event. In 2016, Almena expressed devastation not for the loss of lives but for the loss of his hard work in creating the Ghost Ship.

Reform in making underground warehouse events a safe space—in every sense—is the light at the end of this battle.

H/T: Pitchfork

Photo credit: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

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