Jan 16, 2008 3:00 pm US/Eastern
R.I. Nightclub Owner Released From Jail Next Year
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ap photo - february 2003 (file)
AP
The co-owner of a nightclub where a 2003 fire killed 100 people has been granted an early release from prison, but will not be freed until October 2009 after serving more than three years of his four-year term, according to two mothers of the victims.
Michael Derderian, 46, went to prison in September 2006 for the fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick that was sparked by pyrotechnics for the 1980s rock band Great White.
He became eligible for parole this month after completing one-third of his sentence, but faced an uphill battle to get released after discipline problems in prison and pleas from victims' families to keep him behind bars.
Derderian appeared before the parole board Wednesday, a week after victims' relatives asked the board to have Derderian serve his entire sentence, saying he ran a dangerous business and failed to show enough remorse for his role in the disaster. Diane Mattera, whose 29-year-old daughter, Tammy Mattera-Housa, was killed, said she was happy Derderian would stay behind bars longer and she won't have to go through the wrenching process of another parole hearing.
"I do not have to go in front of the parole board in a few more months to plead my heart out to keep one of Tammy's murderers behind bars," she said.
But Chris Fontaine, whose son, Mark, 22, died in the fire, said she was disappointed but not surprised since she said the victims'families pleas have previously fallen on "deaf ears."
"It wouldn't have bothered me to go to another hearing and
plead my case again," she said.
Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in September 2006 for installing flammable foam on the club's walls and ceiling as soundproofing. The foam was set on fire by the pyrotechnics then quickly spread the flames through the building. More than 200 people were injured in the Feb. 20, 2003, blaze. Eight of those killed lived or worked in Connecticut.
Derderian's brother, Jeffrey, who also pleaded no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter, was spared jail time under a plea deal and ordered to do 500 hours of community service.
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