Motorcycle Club President Pleads Guilty to First Degree Assault

Jose Roman, 35, pleaded guilty in New London Superior Court yesterday to charges of first degree assault in connection with a September 22, 2012, brawl at the Wildstyle Motorcycle Club in New London, during which one man was nearly stabbed to death and a number of others injured. 

Roman, of 241 Elm Street, New London, was president of the now-closed motorcycle club, which was headquartered at 130 Bank Street. Roman was on probation when the fight occurred. He had been sentenced to three years, suspended after one, in January 2010 for the sale of hallucinogenic or narcotic drugs. 

Roman's brother, 32-year-old Juan Baptista-Roman, of Waterford, served as club vice president. He turned himself in to New London Police on September 31, 2012, after an arrest warrant was issued charging him with first degree assault and with carrying a dangerous weapon. He remains incarcerated as his case is pending. 

New London Police were called to break up the brawl, which began in the club and spilled out onto the street at about 3:30 a.m. Anthony Swift, 26, of New London suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries. 

Jairo Perez, 28, of Guilford, suffered several head and facial injuries after being struck by a large wooden object. Henry Albino, 31, of New London, had lacerations to his face and ear. Miguel Albino, 33, of New London, suffered a leg injury while running from the scene. All four men have since recovered. 

Donte Marin and Robert Marin, two brothers in their early 20s who lived at 40 Crystal Ave. in New London, were also arrested in the wake of the fight. Both have pleaded no contest to charges of first degree assault and breach of peace. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for October.