Pubdate: Sat, 07 Feb 2004 Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) Copyright: 2004 The Clarion-Ledger Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805 Author: Associated Press FORMER MISS. TROOPER ASKS COURT FOR TRIAL A former Mississippi state trooper has asked an appeals court to allow him to withdraw a guilty plea and stand trial on federal drug and money-laundering charges. Clifton D. Anderson, 49, had pleaded guilty to the charges and in 1997 was sentenced to 96 months in prison. The charges stemmed from a July 1996 incident in which Anderson stopped a suspected drug courier and seized the cocaine without arresting the courier, according to prosecutors. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has twice thrown out Anderson's sentence. The first time, in 2001, the 5th Circuit said the district court erred in applying a two-level sentencing enhancement for possession of a firearm - Anderson's police gun - and for grouping sentences on different charges. Anderson was re-sentenced to 87 months in prison. Last December, that sentence was thrown out by the New Orleans court because Anderson was not present for the sentencing. On Jan. 16, U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers Jr. rejected Anderson's motion to withdraw his plea. On Feb. 4, Biggers sentenced Anderson to time already served. Anderson, a Shelby native who was with the Highway Patrol for 18 years, served about 6 1/2 years in a federal penitentiary and now lives in Massachusetts, said Oxford attorney Jay Westfaul. Westfaul said Friday that Anderson continues to pursue a trial "where his named will be cleared." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin