Fatal Adult Home Fire Arrests: Fifth Person Turns Himself In

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland County resident Manuel Lema turned himself in on charges stemming from the investigation into the fatal fire March 23 at the Evergreen Court Assisted Living Home, Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced Friday.

According to the DA's office, the charges against Lema stem have to do with his actions "from within the facility prior to the start of the fire."

The massive blaze destroyed the converted 1903 hotel in Spring Valley, killing firefighter Jared Lloyd and resident Oliver Hueston and injuring about a dozen people. Lloyd, 35, was rescuing residents. He had sent out a Mayday call from an upper floor before it collapsed, but he could not be reached.

Lema faces charges of second-degree criminal impersonation and obstructing governmental administration, both misdemeanors. The 47-year-old was released on an appearance ticket and will return to Spring Valley Justice Court July 6.

Lema is the fifth person to be processed on the charges announced Tuesday. Wayne Ballard, the head of Spring Valley's building and public works departments, and Raymond Canario, the village's chief building inspector and a volunteer firefighter, are charged with filing false reports.

A warrant is still active for Evergreen Court Director Denise Kerr, who lives in Brooklyn and faces a reckless endangerment charge.

"The charges against these six individuals will be presented to a grand jury," Walsh said Tuesday.

Lema is a Pomona resident, The Journal News reported. Evergreen Court officials said he was not an employee at the time of the fire, according to TJN.

Meanwhile, the two rabbis charged with manslaughter and arson are out on bail. Aaron Sommer and his father, Nathaniel Sommer conducted the pre-Passover kitchen cleaning which included using special blowtorches to remove all traces of leavening from the facility's industrial ovens.

Evergreen officials told The Journal News that Nathaniel Sommer had handled the ritual there for 15 years.

SEE:

• Adult Home Fire: Manslaughter, Arson, False Report Charges
• Fatal Adult Home Fire: Sources Say Alarms Were Off For Pre-Passover Cleaning