Ex-Lawman Gets Prison for Slaying Alleged Cop Killer (NM)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | March 3, 2006 | Associated Press

[CedarDave]

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — A former Otero County sheriff's deputy who fatally shot a man who had killed his partner will spend a year in prison and two years on probation after sentencing Friday.

Bill Anders reached a deal with prosecutors last August in which he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Earl Flippen. Anders had faced between one and seven years in prison.

Anders' attorney had asked for a lesser sentence, but Judge James Waylon Counts said state law required that Anders spend at least one year in prison for the crime.

Defense witnesses testified during Anders' sentencing hearing that the deputy snapped after his partner was shot in the head. Prosecutors argued that the ''rule of law'' needed to be upheld.

Anders and Deputy Robert Hedman had responded to reports of gunshots at Flippen's home on Dec. 18, 2004. They noticed blood on the floor, but Flippen refused to let them in. Anders went to call for help and Hedman went to the rear of the house.

According to state police, Flippen shot Hedman in the head behind the house, then Anders encountered Flippen near the front of the house and the two exchanged shots.

Court documents say Flippen was wounded and incapacitated. Anders took his gun and handcuffed him before going to check on Hedman. A videotape taken from his sheriff's department truck showed that Anders returned, rolled the handcuffed man onto his back and shot him.

Investigators said Anders didn't recall the events as shown on the videotape. Eric Westfried, an Albuquerque clinical psychologist who testified for the defense Thursday, said the fuzziness of Anders' memory was triggered by acute stress disorder...

Inside the home, police found the body of Flippen's pregnant girlfriend in a closet. Authorities believe she was killed before deputies arrived.

[CedarDave]

Posey sentencing articles here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=posey

[giobruno]

So Anders cuffs him and doesn't shoot him, what happens? The NM justice system refuses to apply the death penalty, the case drags on for a decade or more, Gary Mitchell takes on Flippen's case, and the Catholic Church in NM asks that he be spared, and the POS is never actually executed. Meanwhile, Flippen murderers 2 more people on behalf of the Aryan Brotherhood over some drug dispute while in prison. I'll buy officer Anders a drink anytime.

[itsLUCKY2B]

****In certain extreme situations, the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy, it is necessary to act outside the law. To pursue... natural justice. This is not vengeance. Revenge is not a valid motive, it's an emotional response. No. Not vengeance. Punishment. *****

[PROSOUTH]

In my Sherrif's Department our Corrections and Workhouse will house State prisoners instead of carrying them to the State Penitentiary. They pay us to house them and it is easier on the families for visitation.

I certainly hope this officer is allowed to stay in a safe environment at his local Sheriff's Department instead of going to the State Penitentiary. Especially since the walls are all a chatter there about his good deed of taking out this POS.

A good trusty he should make, and then build two for one days there in being released in only 6 months.