Anthrax mailing suspect to represent himself in court on unrelated weapons charges

CINCINNATI, OHIO - A man suspected of mailing fake anthrax letters to abortion clinics nationwide can represent himself against unrelated weapons charges, a judge ruled Monday. <br> <br> Clayton Lee Waagner, 45, said he wants to defend himself so he can to speak to the jury, and because ``quite frankly, I have nothing to lose.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Because Waagner has been convicted of at least three prior violent crimes, federal authorities say he could receive a life sentence and fines up to $1.5 million if convicted of carrying firearms. <br> <br> Waagner agreed to have an assistant federal public defender as his standby lawyer, who will take over if the judge decides that is necessary. <br> <br> U.S. District Judge Herman Weber delayed the trial from March 11 until April 8 to give Waagner time to prepare. <br> <br> Waagner is accused of possessing stolen guns and a stolen car when he was arrested Dec. 5 in suburban Cincinnati, about 10 months after he escaped from a jail in Illinois. He was sentenced Jan. 25 in Urbana, Ill., to 30 years in prison for interstate transport of a stolen vehicle, illegal possession of a firearm and the Illinois jail escape. <br> <br> In November, while Waagner was on the run, anti-abortion activist and self-described ``pro-life fanatic&#39;&#39; Neal Horsley said Waagner visited him in Carrollton, Ga. <br> <br> Horsley said Waagner told him he had targeted 42 clinic employees and worked out a way by which they could save themselves if they quit their jobs. <br> <br> The Cincinnati charges are separate from a government investigation into whether Waagner mailed more than 550 anthrax hoax letters to abortion clinics after his escape.