After 4 weeks of jury selection, opening statements were heard yesterday in the trial of Derick Almena and Max Harris. 49 year-old Almena rented out the Ghost Ship Warehouse, while 29 year-old Max Harris acted as a “Creative Director”….helping to book concerts, and collect rents there. Almena and Harris are accused of failing to provide adequate safety equipment, exits and signage. Among other things, the Ghost Ship Warehouse lacked sprinklers (that would have slowed the blaze….giving people more time to escape). Witness testimony is scheduled to begin Monday, and could take 12 to 18 weeks to complete. If convicted on all counts, each man could face 36 years in prison.
