Ghost Ship operator is on the verge of mental breakdown, his lawyers say

The operator of an Oakland warehouse where 36 people died in a fire is experiencing a near mental breakdown following his arrest on involuntary manslaughter charges, his attorneys said Friday.

Lawyer Tony Serra spoke at a news conference, using a photo of his client, Derick Almena, and his family as a backdrop.

Serra said Almena is experiencing “almost total destruction of his mental stability.” Jeffrey Krasnoff, another attorney for Almena, said he was “deeply distraught.”

“People died in his house. He is definitely having mental problems processing this, like anyone would,” Krasnoff said.

Authorities say Almena, 47, rented the warehouse and illegally converted it into low-cost housing for artists and an entertainment venue.

He appeared in court Thursday but did not enter a plea. His arraignment on 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter was continued until next Thursday.

Almena and a second man, Max Harris, 27, were arrested Monday after a six-month investigation into the Dec. 2 fire that occurred during an unpermitted electronic music concert at the building known as the Ghost Ship.

Almena leased the building, and Harris helped him sublet space to tenants and promoters, even though the warehouse was not licensed for housing or entertainment, prosecutors said.

They said that the site was cluttered with highly flammable material and that the suspects failed to provide adequate fire safety systems.

Harris is also expected to be arraigned Thursday. He has no attorney on record.