Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

CRANSTON, R.I. -- Michael Derderian, co-owner of The Station nightclub who pleaded no contest in the deaths of 100 people killed in the disastrous fire there in 2003, was released from medium security prison Thursday, after serving just about two years and three months of a four-year sentence.

Last year, the parole board stated he would be released in October 2009 after considering his application for parole. He was released Thursday after additional time was shaved off for his good behavior, Tracey E. Zeckhausen, chief of information and pubilc relations for the R.I. Department of Corrections.

Derderian became eligible for parole after serving 16 months. He began serving time on Sept. 29, 2006, after he and his brother and co-owner of the West Warwick club, Jeffrey, each pleaded no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Jeffrey Derderian did not have to serve prison time under his plea agreement; he was sentenced to community service.

This morning, Michael Derderian released a statement regarding his release on the Station Education Fund Web site. It reads in its entirety:

"Although my incarceration has ended, remembering the loss of life and pain from family members and survivors is something that will never leave me. The magnitude of what happened cannot be measured in words and while my prison time was certainly difficult, I have always known there are others who have endured so much more on a daily basis.

"I plan to contribute to our non-profit Station Education Fund where with the help of many people we have secured significant college scholarship assistance and raised money for children who lost parents in the fire. I also plan to help those affected in any way I can through participation in prevention and education so this kind of tragedy can never happen again anywhere. I would also be willing to speak about my experience while incarcerated in the hopes that it may deter people from making the wrong choices.

"Finally I'd like to take a moment to thank the many, many people, including victims, who offered words of encouragement and support to both me and my family during this period. You have no idea how much those words meant during those many times that our hearts and our spirits came so close to breaking."

Extra: Projo.com's special report on The Station nightclub fire on Feb. 20, 2003, and its aftermath

 Tags  Michael Derderian The Station nightclub fire West Warwick RI

Comments

LEC said:

I think he should have served the whole time. I'm sick of time off for good behavior, time served, etc. Enough of this bull. If a person is sentenced to serve 4 years or whatever than he/she should. His brother got off with community service. Think of the families that lost relatives or those that survived but were severly burned shame, shame, shame. That night club was a fire trap. They were more interested in making a buck than the safety of the people.

Link | June 25, 2009 3:45 PM
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mike a said:

putting this guy in jail was so foolish. it did not bring anyone back or cure anyone. i do not know him or his brother. i had a friend that died there in the fire. so think about this what did it prove by him spending time in jail? the only thing thats going to help is the settlement money.

Link | June 25, 2009 4:50 PM
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Dennis said:

Well dare I say this.....but maybe he, and a few others should have been nailed to the wall instead of Dan Biechle and the band. Fingers have been pointed in the wrong direction from the get go in this tragedy.

Link | June 26, 2009 6:50 AM
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Italian Girl said:

Hey Mike A:

It's called negligence - a person's careless that caused a tragedy.

When you open a business that invites the public, the least you can do is make sure it is safe.

Link | June 26, 2009 10:56 AM
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