There was outrage in a courtroom in Rockland County where a father and son avoided prison time for starting a fire that killed a firefighter at a nursing home.
Spring Valley Firefighter Jared Lloyd and a resident were killed in the March 2021 blaze, ABC 7 reported.
Dozens of firefighters protested outside the Rockland County Courthouse.
In June, Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer, 71, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of manslaughter while his son, Aaron Sommer, 29, pled to misdemeanor second-degree reckless endangerment.
The plea deal sparked outrage and calls for Rockland District Attorney Thomas Walsh to resign. Firefighters across the county banned him their firehouses and events.
The elder Sommer admitted to using a 20-pound propane blowtorch to cleanse the Evergreen Court ovens and kitchen for Passover.
Lloyd became trapped in the blaze and called a Mayday.
An investigation by local media after the deadly blazed showed decades of code violations.
Lloyd's mother Sabrail Davenport, told the judge before sentencing: "My life has been turned upside down these last two and a half years because of a reckless act that caused the tragic death of my only child, how does a negligent act of these defendants warrant no jail time."
When the plea deal was reached, Lloyd's family said they felt betrayed.
Nathaniel Sommer said: "I am sorry, I feel terrible for what I did, I tried my whole life to help people and I did the exact opposite here and hurt so many people and I feel terrible for them."
Despite the emotional pleas, the judge did not deviate from the pre-agreed upon plea -- no jail time and $600 in court fees.
County Executive Ed Day said in a statement: "As a former first responder, I do not agree with the sentencing given to the two people responsible for the Evergreen Court deadly blaze not facing any jail time for their reckless and felonious behavior. As I have stated countless times, the Lloyd and Hueston families do not feel this is justice for their loved ones who perished in that fire. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families now serving a life sentence as they mourn the loved ones serving a death sentence.
