Two men pleaded no contest to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter Tuesday stemming from an Oakland, California, warehouse fire in December 2016.
The plea deal means Derick Almena, who illegally converted the Ghost Ship warehouse into a concert venue, and Max Harris, a tenant, won't face trial and could avoid lengthy prison sentences. The two could have faced 39 years in prison.
Instead, according to CNN, Almena is expected to be sentenced to nine years in prison with three years under mandatory supervision. And Harris is expected to be sentenced to six years in prison with four years' supervision.
Almena's defense attorney said the plea deal was reached to "eliminate all the trauma and pain and suffering that everyone who touches this case endures."
The two men will be sentenced Aug. 9.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
