Bonds' trainer in contempt, prison-bound

Yahoo/AP ^ | 8-28-06 | David Kravets

[STARWISE]

Barry Bonds' personal trainer was on his way back to prison Monday after being held in contempt of court for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating the Giants slugger.

Greg Anderson could remain behind bars for more than a year while the grand jury investigates Bonds for perjury and tax evasion, regarding income from sales of his sports memorabilia.

Anderson, who has appeared five times before two federal grand juries without answering pertinent questions, was held in contempt of court for two weeks last month but was released when that grand jury's term expired.

"Sometimes sitting in the cooler for a long time may have a therapeutic affect and may change his mind," U.S. District Judge William Alsup said during the rancorous, hourlong hearing, after which authorities whisked Anderson into custody.

"Maybe in 16 months he will change his mind," Alsup said, referring to the remainder of the grand jury's term.

[Orange1998]

Good! All he has to do is come clean. Someone must be paying him to keep his trap shut. I can think of no other reason.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

I'm sure multiple pro athletes have promised him millions to keep his mouth shut and wait it out.

[bmwcyle]

Send Barry Bonds with him.

[patriot_wes]

I don't care about baseball but am I missing something? I thought nobody had to testify against themselves - can't he take the fifth without penalty or is this a Susan McDougall.

[Orange1998]

I wonder if the deal is to wait out the statue of limitations.

[mirkwood]

[Enchante]

I think they can offer immunity or limited immunity for the topics to be addressed in the testimony and then no witness can "plead the 5th" because they are no longer in danger of self-incrimination. Don't know if that's what's happening here but I would suspect so......

[Dan(9698)]

I thought nobody had to testify against themselves - can't he take the fifth without penalty

They aren't asking for testimony against himself.

They are asking about transactions involving others.

They probably offered immunity if he would testify, he refused and so the Judge ordered him to testify.

He is in jail for defying the judge's order.

[STARWISE]

Priceless! Where's the McGuire Mugger?

[muleskinner]

Somebody has too much free time.

[thoughtomator]

Either paying him, or threatening him. I can imagine he holds some high-priced reputations in his hands.

[glorgau]

> I'm sure multiple pro athletes have promised him millions to keep his mouth shut and wait it out.

If he's smart, he got cash up front.

[csmusaret]

I'm curious. Why the villification of Bonds while Giambi gets a pass?

[caresistance]

With all that society has to be concerned about i just can't care less whether sports figures risk their lives taking steroids. I also offended by the high & mighty tone of this judge. Sounds like a typical elitist willing to squander the finite resources that overburdened taxpayers so graciously provide.

[bmwcyle]

Stupid question. I gave no one a pass. Stop asking stupid questions.

[Amerigomag]

This consumption of the public tax dollar is a waste.

If, as many suspect, Anderson will financially benefit handsomely in reciprocation for one year on the tax payers dime, his sentence is no deterrent.

It may well be, in fact, an incentive to repeat his behavior. It all depends who adopts him in the can.

[tenthirteen]

Sounds to me this is all about the rule of law. Talk and you walk. It's all on him; he writes his own ticket. He challenged the Judge and the Judge didn't blink. Most people know the rules. This guy has to be shown.

[caresistance]

The rule of law in this nation? Immigration, Clinton admin., politicians, corporate America... Sounds like another power drunk Gov't official to me.

[AmericaUnited]

Well, what if Bonds said "Just be quiet and several million dollars is yours." ? Seriously, maybe this guy is thinking all I have to do is spend 1 year in prison and I'm a multimillionaire. I know many people who would do that in a heartbeat.