Great White singer fears criminal charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Great White vocalist Jack Russell still fears possible criminal charges in the Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people last February.

In papers filed in U.S. District Court in Providence, Russell's lawyers say he "faces a real possibility of criminal prosecution arising out of, and related to" the fire of Feb. 20, 2003, and therefore, is asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and declining to answer allegations raised in at least eight civil suits.

However, Michael Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch, told the Providence Journal "there is no open grand jury investigation going on" in connection with the fire, and the Rhode Island attorney general's office has no plans to prosecute anyone besides the three defendants currently under indictment. They are former Great White band member Daniel Biechele and the two owners of the nightclub, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian.

The fire at The Station club killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others.