Two men have pleaded not guilty in connection with a fire in December that killed 36 people in an illegally converted Oakland warehouse.
Derick Almena and Max Harris entered pleas Wednesday to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter each.
Prosecutors say the two men turned the Oakland warehouse, known as the Ghost Ship, into a death trap when they converted it to a housing and entertainment venue.
The 47-year-old Almena leased the warehouse, and prosecutors say 27-year-old Harris helped rent living space and organize for-profit concerts.
Both men lived in the warehouse, along with several other tenants, when a fire engulfed the structure on the night of Dec. 2 during a musical performance that dozens attended.