Six people are
facing charges in connection to a fire that claimed the life of a volunteer
firefighter and a resident in Spring Valley in March.
Rockland County
District Attorney Tom Walsh announced the arrest of four Rockland County men as
a result of a multiagency, three-month investigation into the fatal fire in the
Evergreen Assisted Living Home on March 23, 2021.
The fire claimed the
life of volunteer firefighter Jared Lloyd and a resident of the facility.
Aaron Sommer and
Nathaniel Sommer were charged with manslaughter in the second degree, assault
in the second degree, arson in the fourth degree, assault in the third degree
and reckless endangerment in the second degree. They were arraigned in Spring
Valley Justice Court. Bail was set, and they were transported to the
Rockland County Jail. News 12 believes the Sommers are rabbis who were
kosherizing the ovens at the facility the night before the fire.
Wayne Ballard and
Raymond Canario are charged with falsely filling reports to New York state
regarding fire inspections. Both men were processed and released on appearance
tickets. Ballard and Canario are the chief and deputy building inspectors
in Spring Valley. Canario is also a fire chief.
There are also two
active warrants out against Denise Kerr, the executive director of the
building, and Manual Lema, who sources say is an employee at the nursing facility. Kerr
was charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree. Lema was charged
with criminal impersonation in the second degree and obstructing governmental
administration.
The
charges come less than one week after the district attorney seized boxes of
records from the village of Spring Valley.
There
is no word on whether more arrests will follow.