SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. (WCBS 880) -- A rabbi and his son were indicted by a grand jury Monday in connection to a Rockland County fire that killed two people earlier this year.
Nathaniel and Aaron Sommer have been indicted on felony charges that include manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, arson and assault.
The fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults in Spring Valley in March killed firefighter Jared Lloyd and a resident of the home, according to officials.
According to court documents, the two are accused of using an outdoor-only propane tank to "heat appliances, surfaces and other items in the kitchen" as well as not extinguishing open flames.
The two were performing pre-Passover cleaning, which includes heating utensils to remove forbidden food, where they used a torch, according to court docs.
Officials for the facility said the father and son were independent contractors, and had been doing the ritual for over a decade.
Spring Valley fire officials previously said the fire alarm system at the facility was on "test" mode when flames erupted.
The father and son's attorney said the duo deny committing a crime or acting maliciously, according to LoHud.
The Sommers are two of six people charged in connection to the fire, which also includes Wayne Ballard and Raymond Canario, who had been employed at the Spring Valley Building Department, are charged with offering a false instrument for filing falsifying business records.
Denise Kerr of New York City is charged with reckless endangerment "involving her conduct at the Evergreen Court Adult Home."
Manuel Lema of Pomona is charged with one count of criminal impersonation and obstructing governmental administration in connection with "the alleged criminal acts associated with a call to Rockland County 44 Control involving the Evergreen Home for Adults," Walsh said.
Two firefighters and 13 residents were hospitalized due to the blaze, which destroyed the assisted living facility.
