Paterson Building Owner Enters Plea in Fatal Fire

PATERSON — The owner of a multi-family building in northern New Jersey where four people were killed in a fire has reached a plea deal that will spare her a prison term.

Florence Brown was facing four counts of manslaughter and could have received 40 years in prison if convicted. But The Record reports that Brown pleaded guilty Wednesday to an amended count of causing widespread injury "by failing to make necessary repair."

The length of her probation will be determined when she's sentenced Feb. 1

The charges against Brown stemmed from a June 2010 fire at the three-story building in Paterson. Passaic County prosecutors said it occurred because she didn't make necessary electrical repairs.

Nine people lived in the building at the time. Two men and two women were killed.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.