Ghost Ship trial

Defense attorneys for Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena have filed a motion seeking a “significant” reduction in his $750,000 bail on 36 involuntary manslaughter …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship jury finds Harris not guilty, deadlocks on Almena

Bay City News

September 5, 2019

< 1 min read

A jury on Thursday acquitted Ghost Ship warehouse creative director Max Harris on all counts but was deadlocked on a verdict for master tenant Derick …

Crime East Bay Law

Jury reaches verdict in Ghost Ship trial

Nik Wojcik

September 5, 2019

2 mins read

According to several news outlets stationed at Alameda County Superior Court Thursday, the jury has reached a verdict in the trial against Derick Almena, 49, …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship trial resumes, jury rests without verdict

Bay City News

September 3, 2019

2 mins read

The reconstituted jury panel in the trial of Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena and creative director Max Harris resumed deliberations on Tuesday after …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship trial judge loosens gag order

Bay City News

August 21, 2019

2 mins read

The judge in the trial of Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena and creative director Max Harris said Wednesday morning that she has modified …

Crime East Bay Housing Law News

Ghost Ship prosecution gives closing statement to packed courtroom, overflow

Bay City News

July 29, 2019

2 mins read

An Alameda County prosecutor told jurors Monday that criminal negligence on the part of Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena and creative director Max …

Crime East Bay Housing Law News

Officer claims he broke up ‘rave’ at Ghost Ship before deadly fire

Bay City News

July 16, 2019

3 mins read

An Oakland police officer testified Tuesday that he shut down an illegal rave party at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland about 21 months before …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship defendant’s wife contradicts former fire marshal testimony

Bay City News

June 25, 2019

2 mins read

The wife of Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena testified Tuesday that police and fire officials who visited the building on multiple occasions never …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship trial highlights emails between Max Harris, landlord

Bay City News

June 18, 2019

2 mins read

Ghost Ship warehouse creative director Max Harris reluctantly admitted on Tuesday that he lied to a police officer when he claimed that no one lived …

Crime East Bay LGBTQ News

Max Harris testifies he feared homelessness when lying to police before fire

Bay City News

June 17, 2019

3 mins read

Ghost Ship warehouse creative director Max Harris said Monday that he lied to a police officer by claiming that no one lived at the 10,000-square-foot …

Crime East Bay Law News

Max Harris testifies that Ghost Ship was ‘very autonomous place’

Bay City News

June 17, 2019

2 mins read

Ghost Ship warehouse creative director Max Harris said Monday that there weren’t any hard and fast rules at the 10,000-square-foot building in Oakland where 36 …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship witness claims group of men ‘congratulated themselves’ for fire

Bay City News

June 10, 2019

2 mins read

A woman testified on Monday that she overheard a group of men congratulate themselves on starting the fire at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship judge okays first defense witness, may rule ‘hearsay’ arson testimony inadmissible

Bay City News

June 6, 2019

3 mins read

The judge in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire trial said on Thursday that she will decide on Monday whether she will allow a witness to …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship survivor testifies he thought his ‘life was over’

Bay City News

June 4, 2019

2 mins read

A man testified on Tuesday that he thought he would die during the 2016 fire at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland that claimed 36 …

Art Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship witness testifies Almena laughed at ‘conventional’ improvement, permit suggestion

Bay City News

May 28, 2019

2 mins read

The mother of a leaseholder for the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland where 36 people died in a fire in 2016 testified on Tuesday that …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship fire investigator says no sign of arson, cause not determined

Bay City News

May 21, 2019

2 mins read

A former top Oakland Fire Department official said on Tuesday that investigators didn’t find any evidence that Molotov cocktails or other explosives were thrown into …

Crime East Bay Law News

Ghost Ship survivor breaks down in tears on witness stand, another juror dismissed

Bay City News

May 13, 2019

2 mins read

A man who lived at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland broke down in tears on Monday as he testified about unsuccessfully trying to save …

East Bay Housing News Original

Ghost Ship witnesses describe ‘explosion’ of fire, ‘confusing’ layout

Nik Wojcik

May 8, 2019

5 mins read

Casey Bates and Autrey James, arguing for the District Attorney’s Office, pulled four witnesses to the stand on the second day of testimony.

Art Crime East Bay Housing Law News

Ghost Ship testimony brings out tension, tears

Nik Wojcik

May 6, 2019

5 mins read

The first day of testimony Monday in the Ghost Ship jury trial began with drama from counsel.

Crime East Bay Housing News

Accusations of arson, criminal neglect swirl through second Ghost Ship trial

Nik Wojcik

May 1, 2019

6 mins read

Cases like the Ghost Ship attract a lot of attention, largely because there are seldom cases like it.

Crime East Bay Law News

Judge sets aggressive schedule for Ghost Ship trial

Bay City News

April 2, 2019

2 mins read

The judge in the case of Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena and creative director Max Harris announced on Tuesday an aggressive and optimistic …