OAKLAND, Calif. – A man facing a second trial after a fire killed 36 partygoers at a San Francisco Bay Area warehouse he’s accused of illegally converting into a cluttered artists enclave is expected to plead guilty later this month, relatives of several of the victims said.Derick Almena, 50, is expected to plead guilty to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter on Jan.
22, families of several fire victims told the East Bay Times Wednesday.The relatives said Alameda County prosecutors told them during a video call Wednesday that in exchange for his guilty plea Almena will get a nine-year sentence — though he may serve little or none of it because of time already served and good behavior while he was incarcerated.Prosecutors and Almena’s.