BARBERSHOP - RAPE CHARGES AGAINST ANDERSON DISMISSED

LATEST: BARBERSHOP star ANTHONY ANDERSON is now completely free of his legal woes, after Tennessee prosecutors decided not to pursue rape charges against him.

The 34-year-old actor, along with film director WAYNE WITHERSPOON, 43, stood accused of attacking a 25-year-old female extra last summer (04) on the set of the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL success HUSTLE + FLOW.

But a judge threw out the case in the autumn (04), saying testimony by the accuser was some of the most suspicious he had heard in 20 years.

The accuser's former boyfriend reportedly testified at a preliminary hearing that she told him that she was falsely making her claim to extract money from Anderson and Witherspoon.

Prosecutor District Attorney General BILL GIBBONS says his office has reviewed the case and decided not to seek a grand jury criminal indictment against Anderson and Witherspoon.

He states, "At this point we do not feel we have a provable case," adding the accuser was notified by letter earlier this month (JAN05).