Posted on 12/05/2016 7:12:47 PM PST by nickcarraway
Derick Ion Almena, the founder of the artists collective that was the scene of deadly fire, is on probation for receiving stolen property
The man who founded and ran the artists' collective at the Ghost Ship warehouse where dozens of people died in a massive fire is is currently on probabion in connection with a stolen property case, according to Alameda County court records.
Derick Ion Almena, 46, who friends knew as Derick Ion, was convicted in January of receiving stolen property, specifically an Airstream trailer from his landlord in January 2015, court records show. He spent two days in jail then, plead no contest to a misdemeanor, and is currently on probation until 2019.
Almena survived the fire and posted to Facebook after hearing that the converted warehouse he managed was the site of a deadly fire. The post, which has since been deleted, got a lot of attention because of its insensitivity to what was already known to be a fatal scene.
The post read as follows: "Confirmed. Everything I worked so hard for is gone. Blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel safe and sound ... it's as if I have awoken from a dream filled with opulence and hope ... to be standing now in poverty of self worth."
The post prompted more than 2,000 comments, and many of them were critical of Almena's message. The commenters said he showed more concern for his material possessions than the people who were killed in the blaze.
Danielle Boudreaux said she became fast friends with Almena and his wife Micah Allison when they met eight years ago before a falling out about a year ago over conditions at the warehouse.
Access to the second floor, where there was a room for concerts and a home for the couple and their children, was a rickety, homemade staircase, she said. "Calling it a staircase gives you the idea that it was a set of stairs. It was not," Boudreaux said. "It was random pieces of wood put together to create something that you could get up to the top floor on. But it was not what most people would consider a staircase. It was like a jimmy-rigged makeshift staircase. As soon as you stepped on it, it wobbled all over the place."
Other former tenants have said there were constant problems with the power and hot water. One, Shelly Mack, described "all kinds of electrical cords running through there illegally." She called it a "death trap." According to a report in the Daily Mail on Sunday, Almena checked into the Marriott City Center hotel in Oakland, but the hotel had not confirmed that.
NBC Bay Area reached out to Almena for comment but did not hear back Sunday. On Monday, NBC News received a statement from him. It read: "In my previous Facebook post, I had no idea there was a loss of life. This tragic event consumes me every moment. My heart is broken. My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends who have suffered the loss of loved ones."
EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to Almena's past criminal history. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor. NBC Bay Area's Michael Bott and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Well, imagine that.
Looks like the Left got its fall guy and now the investigation will get swept under the rug.
City council, Mayor, and state regulators need to fry in Old Sparky.
Yet ANOTHER person who refuses to grow up.
He’s a dirtbag. Deserves every bit of time in state prison he will get.
Not absolving him of responsibility. But the Bay Area media isn’t holding the city and state responsible. That’s who really should get blame.
“But the Bay Area media isn’t holding the city and state responsible. That’s who really should get blame.”
I would be very careful before advocating that the Nanny State be held criminally responsible for property owners or tenants that fail to follow regulations.
If you do that, you are going to have inspectors at your front door every two weeks.
Not absolving him of responsibility. But the Bay Area media isn’t holding the city and state responsible. That’s who really should get blame.
Oh, yeah. The “artist” living in a warehouse scam has been going on decades. And already I see reports of Oakland cops making weekly calls to this place for drugs, criminal activity, etc. For sure the city new about sketchy types living there. And did nothing about it.
He’s got the douchebag look down pat.
Seems like relevant city authorities stand to get sued too, rightfully;
Just like whichever is the sanctuary city where they harbored Kate Steinle’s killer should be sued too. I think that is SF.
He’s not responsible in the slightest for keeping the building he was leasing n compliance with the Building and Fire codes.
The owner is responsible and the Fire Department/Code Enforcement are the ones that didn’t do their jobs, which was to shut the place down a long time ago.
City run by communist hippy freaks.
I think when folks talk about permits and the Nanny state, I’m thinking about laws like, I’m trying to remember, some fellow out in the suburbs was stuccoing his own home on his own property, he couldn’t get it finished and didn’t have the money to. Then, the city ended up fining him. This is the type of permit and laws people don’t like.
If one is talking about how many people can fit into a restaurant and bar, that to me is a bit different.
But this Ghost Ship apparently was not following any laws at all.
The artist isn’t a “property owner.” He was a squatter, and the place was abandoned. The city should have razed the building.
Looks like the man who rented the warehouse from Mr. Ng illegally turned it into a multiple-resident dwelling, plus he (or his tenants) was stealing electrical feeds and water from neighboring properties.
There's a lot more to this tragic story yet to come out and the City of Oakland will be partially implicated eventually, imo.
Balance, it may be written into the fabric of the universe, but it doesn’t intersect with bureaucracy.
In California's defense, you can't attend to every eyesore deathtrap marxist druggie fake artist colony when you have your hands full locating, processing and closing down kids' illegal lemonade stands.
Ran a shop in Cali for 7 years. The fire department tried to get in their every year, but no one was there whenever they came by. They cannot force their way in right now, but you can bet your bottom dollar they would, if the city was help criminally responsible for possible fires. Oh, and every time they sent a letter asking for an appointment, I never responded. Had very few visitors. Was just me in there 95 % of the time
He’s not responsible in the slightest for keeping the building he was leasing n compliance with the Building and Fire codes.
The owner is responsible and the Fire Department/Code Enforcement are the ones that didn’t do their jobs, which was to shut the place down a long time ago.
City run by communist hippy freaks.
The dirtbag was renting a warehouse. Not an apartment building. Not a disco. He organized an illegal commercial event there and a child and 35 other people died. Understand? Deservedly, he’s look at a stretch in state prison now.
So, running a death trap place like that wasn’t any sort of violation of his probation? Will it be now?
Try to get at least some facts right -- he was the lessee of the building, and paid rent to its owner, who had by no means abandoned the building.
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