Jail Guard Gets 34 Years for Plot with Ex-Ram

The jail guard convicted of helping former Rams football player Darryl Henley arrange a drug deal and plot a murder-for-hire scheme to kill a federal judge and Henley’s ex-girlfriend was sentenced Monday to nearly 34 years in prison.

U. S. District Judge James Ideman said he believed that Rodney Anderson, 30, lied during his testimony.

“It boggles the mind Mr. Anderson would expect the jury to believe that fairy tale,” Ideman said of Anderson’s claim that a Henley associate held a gun to his head and forced him to participate in the conspiracy.

The judge called Anderson “a complete phony” when he testified.

“This was a very strange case,” said Assistant U. S. Atty. Marc Harris. “It’s extraordinary when a law enforcement officer charged with protecting us then betrays us.”

Ideman said he considered sentencing Anderson to more time in prison for obstruction of justice, but decided not to give the former guard more time than Henley will likely receive.

Henley, who pleaded guilty in the bizarre plot, will be sentenced on Mar. 10. Harris said he will probably receive 41 years in prison.

During the trial, Anderson testified that he only pretended to go along with Henley and an undercover U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent because he feared for his life.

Anderson was convicted last November of conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of murder for hire, conspiracy to distribute narcotics and two counts of bribery.

“He was a law enforcement official in a position of great trust,” the judge said. “Everybody knows he sold out. And I think he should be made an example.”