A Rockland County judge has found a former Spring Valley building inspector not guilty on all three misdemeanor charges related to a deadly fire at an assisted living facility.

News 12 was the only media outlet in court as Judge Kevin Russo acquitted Ray Canario.

Canario let out a sigh and put his head on the table after the verdict was announced.

Felony charges Canario were dropped by the same judge earier this week.

Canario was charged with filing false inspection reports in connection with the Evergreen Court Home for Adults.

The Evergreen facility was the site of massive fire in March 2021 that killed one resident and volunteer firefighter Jared Lloyd.

Canario's attorney, Stefanie Jordan released the following statement Friday: 
"On behalf of Mr Canario, we are grateful for the fair and reasonable outcome to this matter. My client would like to thank the employees of the Spring Valley Building Department, the Spring Valley Police Department and all of the volunteer fire departments of Rockland County, for their ongoing support and for their continuous dedication to the safety of the residents of Spring Valley and Rockland County. We express our deepest sympathy to the families of those lost in the Evergreen tragedy and support all efforts to protect and serve the residents of our communities."  

Peter Walker, a spokesman for the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, released the following statement:

"The yearslong disorganization and disfunction of the Spring Valley Building Department served  as a defense in these cases. The court chose not to hold these defendants accountable for their role in the malfeasance in the building department. We disagree with the Court's decision and are disappointed in it. As a result of this investigation by the Rockland County District Attorney’s office and other state and local agencies, the New York State Department of State intervened and had the County of Rockland take over the Spring Valley Building Department.  The Rockland County District Attorney’s office is willing to prosecute not just the easy cases but the difficult as well. ”