Report: Despite threat of more prison time, Anderson won't testify

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Greg Anderson, who spent months in federal prison for refusing to testify against his personal training client, Barry Bonds, was released on Thursday when Bonds was indicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. He could face a possible return.

Anderson

According to Anderson's attorneys, he'll do it again if confronted with the same dilemma.

Anderson could be charged with criminal contempt if he refuses to cooperate with the government if Bonds goes to trial on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. That would mean a criminal trial of his own and an even longer prison sentence than the civil contempt charge that sent him to prison for refusing to testify before the grand jury investigating Bonds.

But Anderson's defense team told the New York Daily News that he won't turn on Bonds.

"He's never going to testify," his lead attorney Mark Geragos said, according to the Daily News.

"He didn't like it there," added Paula Carny, a member of Anderson's defense team, according to the Daily News. "But all any of us have is what we believe is who we are and our word and integrity."

Bonds faces a maximum of five years on each of his four perjury charges and 10 years for one obstruction charge for allegedly lying about his steroid use during a 2003 grand jury appearance. But defense attorneys and former prosecutors who have handled perjury cases said if Bonds is convicted he likely would serve only about a year in prison.

Bonds was charged Thursday for allegedly lying in his testimony before a grand jury investigating a performance-enhancing drug ring centered at BALCO.

Two other athletes and a track coach also have been indicted for allegedly lying to the grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

Marion Jones, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, pleaded guilty in October and faces a maximum of six months in prison when she is sentenced in January.

Elite track coach Trevor Graham, who once coached Jones, and former Olympic bicyclist Tammy Thomas also have been charged with perjury, and both have pleaded not guilty.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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