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September 21, 2006

Update: Politicians react to Derderians' plea

PROVIDENCE -- Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty, the Democratic candidate for governor, issued a statement this afternoon criticizing the outcome of Michael and Jeffrey Derderian's court cases.

"The proposed sentence seems inadequate considering the magnitude of the tragedy," Fogarty said. "Cleary, justice calls for a more severe penalty."

The man running against Attorney General Patrick Lynch in November issued a tempered statement this morning about the Derderians' plea bargain, averting their trials in the high-profile The Station fire case.

Republican J. William W. Harsch has been virtually silent on the case until now.

"My campaign has avoided commenting on The Station nightclub fire incident out of respect for the victims and out of respect for the process of law," Harsch said in a statement. "However, at this stage in the process, like many other Rhode Islanders, I can say that I do not have the sense that justice was served, but out of respect for the process of law and victims of their families, will refrain from further comment or judgment until more is known and more is understood.”

Lynch maintains that he opposed the terms, but Michael Derderian's attorney said a prosecutor under Lynch proposed the plea arrangement.

Michael Derderian would receive four years in prison, while his brother, Jeffrey, Station nightclub co-owner, would get no jail time. Read more about the plea, which has not yet been formalized in court.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 3:22 PM | Permalink

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