2 of 3 brothers in Dandan riot plead guilty

Two of three brothers who fought each other—one of them even punched a police officer who tried to pacify them—have pleaded guilty.

Derick Robert Chipwelong, 18, pleaded guilty to assault and battery. His brother Dickson Robert Chipwelong, 20, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice.

Superior Court associate judge Kenneth Govendo accepted the plea and sentenced Derick Chipwelong to one year in prison, all suspended except eight days with eight days of credit.

Following the plea agreement, Govendo placed Derick Chipwelong on one year of probation and required him to pay $100 fine, $25 in court assessment fee, plus probation fee.

The defendant was held liable to pay restitution, if any, in an amount not to exceed $500 to Police Officer Servando Regis and Hi-Mart.

The judge directed Derick Chipwelong to perform 100 hours of community work service and write a letter of apology to Office Regis and Hi-Mart.

Govendo sentenced Dickson Chipwelong to six months in prison, all suspended except six days with credit for the six days he already served in jail.

Dickson Chipwelong will be placed on six months of probation and directed to pay $100 fine, $25 in court assessment fee, plus probation fee.

Dickson Chipwelong was ordered to perform 100 hours of community work service and write a letter of apology to Marissa Ilo Gioda and Hi-Mart.

Dickson Chipwelong was held liable to pay $500 in restitution to Gioda and Hi-Mart.

The judge said that during the probationary period, the defendants are prohibited from consuming any alcoholic beverages.

He set the review hearing for both defendants for April 24, 2007.

Derick Chipwelong was charged with assault and battery, obstructing justice, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, and resisting arrest.

Dickson Chipwelong was charged with obstructing justice, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, and resisting arrest.

The plea agreement stated that on Sept. 10, 2006 Derick Chipwelong beat up Officer Regis by punching him on the face.

Dickson Chipwelong did unlawfully resist or interfere with a law enforcement officer in the lawful pursuit of his duties.

The case against the third defendant Tammy Papius is still pending in court.

Police and court records show that after the fight that happened outside Hi-Mart in Dandan, the three brothers were subsequently handcuffed when Officer Regis, who got hit by the punch on the jaw, decided to spray pepper mace at them during the struggle.

Responding police officers observed the three brothers shouting at each other. The defendants told police officers that they didn’t need help from police.

As the trio were pushing each other, they damaged the glass window of Hi Mart. Papius got a cut to the left thumb.

Officer Regis asked Derick Chipwelong to calm down, but the latter instead threw a punch, hitting the officer on the jaw.

The punch forced officer Regis to step backward as he tried to catch his balance. Regis and Derick Chipwelong then fell to the ground as they struggled.

Derick Chipwelong suffered a minor cut from the shattered broken glasses on the ground.

As the brothers resisted arrest, officer Regis applied pepper mace at the defendants.

Two other officers assisted Regis in putting handcuffs on the defendants.

Police learned that prior to the fight, two of the three brothers blocked a vehicle driven by Gioda who was with her family in front of the store.

One of the brothers allegedly started punching the right rear passenger window of the vehicle. The woman sped off and called 911.