THEIR ROLE IN STARTING A FIRE
THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE, THOUGH
THEY WILL FACE NO JAIL TIME.
ONE OF THOSE VICTIMS A
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.
HIS COMMUNITY NOW MAKING THEIR
VOICES HEARD.
NBC'S STEVEN ROMO HAS THE
STORY.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, EMOTIONS
STILL HIGH TWO YEARS AFTER A
MASSIVE FIRE AT AN ASSISTED
LIVING FACILITY LEFT A RESIDENT
AND A FIREFIGHTER DEAD.
A JUDGE ACCEPTING A PLEA DEAL
THAT INCLUDES NO JAIL TIME FOR
THE TWO NEW YORK RABBIS CHARGED
IN THE DEADLY FIRE, A CROWD
INCLUDING VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTERS GATHERING OUTSIDE
COURT IN PROTEST AS NATHANIEL
SOMMER AND HIS SON, AARON,
WALKED IN.
THE MEN ADMITTING THEIR
BEHAVIOR WAS RECKLESS.
>> DO YOU PLEAD GUILTY TO
MANSLAUGHTER IN THE SECOND
DEGREE?
>> YES.
>> Reporter: COURT DOCUMENTS
SAY THE FATHER/SON PAIR USED A
PROPANE FUELED BLOWTORCH INSIDE
THAT FACILITY TO PERFORM A PRE
PASSOVER KOSHER CLEANING
RITUAL, WITHOUT A PERMIT OR
FIRE WATCH . THEN THE BLAZE
BURNED OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING
A PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF THE
BUILDING.
THEY HAD INITIALLY BEEN CHARGED
WITH MANSLAUGHTER, ASSAULT, AND
ARSON.
NOW NATHANIEL SOMMER WILL SERVE
FIVE YEARS OF PROBATION AND HIS
SON, AARON, WILL SERVE THREE
YEARS PROBATION FOR PLEADING
GUILTY TO RECKLESS
ENDANGERMENT, ACCORDING TO NBC
NEW YORK.
WE REACHED OUT TO THEIR
ATTORNEY BUT HAVE NOT YET HEARD
BACK.
ONE OF THE VICTIMS, HEROIC
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER JARED
LLOYD.
THE PAIN FOR HIS FAMILY STILL
RAW, HIS MOTHER SAYING SHE FELT
THE TRADE BY THE DEAL.
>> YOU GUYS ACCEPTED A PLEA
DEAL, THIS IS NOT JUSTICE.
NO, THIS IS NOT JUSTICE.
Y'ALL NEED TO STAND UP FOR
JARED BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN
TO ALL OF YOU.
>> Reporter: ALSO SAYING IT
FELT LIKE JARED'S LIFE DIDN'T
MATTER.
>> THEY DID NOT CONSIDER WHAT
WE WANTED.
THEY JUST FELT THAT IT WAS BEST
FOR THEM.
>> Reporter: ROCKLAND COUNTY'S
DA DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR
REQUEST FOR COMMENT, SOME
FIREFIGHTERS OUTRAGED BY THE
OUTCOME.
THE OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR THE
FIRE RESPONSE THAT NIGHT,
DISAPPOINTED.
>> HE GOT IN MY CHIEFS CAR AND
PROMISED ME SOMEBODY WOULD HANG
OR BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS
ACTION IN THIS FIRE, AND IT
NEVER HAPPENED.
IT WAS ALL LIKE LIPSERVICE.
>> THE FIREFIGHTERS AND FAMILY
ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE
UPSET WITH THIS OUTCOME.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ED DAY