Former Alpine Motel Owner Sentenced to Prison for Fatal 2019 Fire
Introduction to the Case
Adolfo Orozco-Garcia, aged 49, formerly the proprietor of the Alpine Motel in Las Vegas, has commenced serving his prison sentence related to the tragic fire that occurred at the motel on December 21, 2019. This devastating incident claimed the lives of six residents.
Details of the Sentencing
Orozco-Garcia faced 27 charges following the deadly fire, which resulted in the deaths of six tenants: Donald Keith Bennett, Tracy Ann Cihal, Francis Lombardo Jr., Cynthia Mikell, Kerry Marie Odo-Baclaan, and Henry Lawrence Pinc. The blaze also injured thirteen individuals and displaced more than fifty others, marking it as the deadliest fire within the Las Vegas city limits.
In January, to avoid a protracted trial set for February, Orozco-Garcia accepted a plea agreement. He entered an Alford plea, which allowed him to maintain his innocence while accepting that sufficient evidence likely existed for conviction. His plea covered two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless disregard for safety causing significant bodily harm or death.
Clark County District Court Judge Jacqueline Bluth sentenced him in June to a prison term ranging from 19 to 48 months. The judge allowed him to stay out of custody for 90 days to self-report, with eligibility for probation after serving 19 months and a maximum sentence of four years.
Background and Cause of the Fire
The Alpine Motel fire ignited in a three-story building constructed in 1972 and located in downtown Las Vegas. The building had failed multiple fire safety inspections and endured various code enforcement issues prior to the fire. Some residents, without adequate heating, used kitchen stoves for warmth, a practice that eventually triggered the fire.
Comparison with Other Major Fires in the Area
Although this blaze is the deadliest within Las Vegas city limits, the surrounding region has experienced even more catastrophic fires. Notably, the MGM Grand fire on November 21, 1980, in the nearby unincorporated Paradise area on the Las Vegas Strip, was far more deadly. It resulted in 85 fatalities, primarily due to smoke inhalation.
The MGM Grand fire began in a refrigerated pastry display case on the first floor of the hotel and casino. Smoke rapidly rose through the building, seeping into upper-floor guest rooms and causing extensive loss of life. This tragedy remains one of the worst hotel fires in United States history.
