Former Packer player’s effort to toss sentence in rape case rejected

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Darren Sharper, a disgraced former NFL star and Green Bay Packers player, has failed in his most recent attempt to get his 18-year federal sentence overturned in a case involving many victims of drug and sexual assault.

Sharper was denied a “certificate of appealability” on Thursday by a federal appellate judge in New Orleans.

The judge denied the former Saints and Packers player’s request for more information regarding the ramifications of his guilty plea in 2015. As a result, the player filed an appeal with the court of appeals.

The federal conspiracy and drug charges involved his drugging of two women so he could rape them.

The sentencing judge noted similar allegations involving as many as 16 victims.