Extortion case against trooper tossed

Associated Press - October 4, 2009 1:34 PM ET

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A Holmes County judge has thrown out an extortion indictment againsti a Mississippi state trooper, saying the state never got an arrest warrent or held the required evidence hearing.

Judge Jannie Lewis says that because the state neither got an arrest warrant or held a hearing to decide whether there was enough evidence to charge him, it cannot reindict Johnny DeLaney of Cruger.

Delaney, who denied the allegations that he demanded money to fix a ticket, says he hopes he can soon return to work as a state police sergeant.

Jon Kalahar, spokesman for the state Department of Public Affairs, says Delaney is still under administrative leave without pay.

He says the district attorney may still appeal the judge's ruling.