Landlord Charged With 20 Building Code Violations After 3 Die In Fire

The landlord who owned the home where three, including a child, died in a Christmas Eve fire was charged on Friday with 20 counts of building code violations.

Sam Vazirani, who owned the home at 90 Wisconsin Ave. that burned and killed Jerrica Francisco, 22, Dayshawn Francisco, 4, and Demetrius Chappell, 33, pleaded no contest last month a code violation for renting another house, located on Clarendon Avenue, that did not have heat, 10TV News reported

Vazirani was charged in December for ignoring the city’s order to vacate the Clarendon Avenue home. He will be sentenced on March 16 following a pre-sentencing investigation.

A judge ordered the home to be vacant and said that electrical issues had been found.

Vazirani could face up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.

The Columbus Division of Fire said that the fire at the Wisconsin Avenue home started because a space heater was placed too close to a mattress. It was ruled accidental.

Vazirani was scheduled to be arraigned for the charges regarding the Wisconsin Avenue home at 9 a.m. on Feb. 28.

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