Owner, Contractor Sentenced For Coos Bay Firefighter Deaths

COOS BAY, Ore. -- Two Coos Bay men will spend time in jail for their part in the deaths of three firefighters.

Coos Bay Lt. Randall Carpenter, Jeffery Common and R. Chuck Hanners were killed in November 2002 while responding to a fire. They became trapped after the roof collapsed and then died from heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation.

Shop owner Jonathan Inskeep and contractor Verlin Glenn Villines pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering the lives of the firefighters. In return, prosecutors dropped felony charges of criminally negligent homicide.

Investigators said the men violated building codes and caused the fatal blaze.

A judge on Monday sentenced them each to four months in jail.

Related:

• 2 Men Sentenced In Fatal Coos Bay Fire
• Two Men Reach Plea Agreement With DA