Spring Valley chief building inspector arraigned in fatal fire at adult care home

Wayne Ballard, 64, is one of six people charged in connection to the fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults. He is accused of filing false inspection reports to the state before the incident.

News 12 Staff

Nov 23, 2021, 5:21 PM

Updated 1,051 days ago

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Spring Valley's chief building inspector was arraigned Tuesday in Rockland County Court on charges stemming from a fatal fire at an adult care home back in March.
Wayne Ballard, 64, is one of six people charged in connection to the fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults.
Ballard, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, is accused of filing false inspection reports to the state before the incident.
He faces up to three years in prison.
Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh previously announced that Raymond Canario, 45, was indicted on three counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, three counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree, and three counts of falsifying business records in the second degree.
Walsh says Wayne Ballard, 64, was indicted on one count of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, one count of offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree, and one count of falsifying business records in the second degree.
The other indictments include a rabbi and his son. The executive director and an employee of Evergreen Court are also facing charges but haven't been indicted yet.
The fire killed one resident and a Spring Valley firefighter.
"My office continues to work hard, following through on our commitment to leave no stone unturned in this tragic incident," said Walsh, on Nov. 15.
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