Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2001 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
Fax: (303) 820.1502
Website: http://www.denverpost.com/
Forum: http://www.denverpost.com/voice/voice.htm
Author: Erin Emery

CADET GETS 42 MONTHS IN PRISON

Jan. 31, 2001 - AIR FORCE ACADEMY - A senior cadet at the Air Force Academy 
who admitted he had used drugs and shared them with fellow cadets was 
sentenced Tuesday to 42 months in federal prison at Leavenworth, Kan. Cadet 
Stephen D. Pouncey, 22, of Austin, Texas, is the only cadet named so far in 
a drug probe involving 35 cadets. The investigation continues for 13 
cadets, although one has already resigned from the academy. Nine others 
have been disciplined because they knew of the illicit activity but didn't 
tell authorities; 12 have been exonerated.

During a court-martial on Tuesday, Pouncey admitted he used LSD, Ecstasy 
and methamphetamine. He also said he provided Ecstasy to three other cadets 
on 10 to 15 occasions from May 1 to Oct. 16 and provided LSD to a sophomore 
cadet twice in October.

"I'd like to express how sorry I am for my conduct," said Pouncey, who will 
also forfeit pay and be dismissed from the Air Force. "There's no excuse 
for my involvement in drugs."

He apologized to his fellow cadets and commanders, and said it was never 
his intention to place the academy in such a bad light. He implored cadets 
to stay away from drugs and learn from his mistake.

"If you're involved with drugs, stop. And if you're thinking about using 
drugs, don't," Pouncey said.

Defense attorneys said another cadet introduced Pouncey to Ecstasy in May. 
On Oct. 16, Pouncey, who had trained to be a pilot, gave a urine sample 
that tested positive for cocaine and metham phetamine. Pouncey then aided 
in the academy's investigation, providing names of other cadets who may 
have used drugs.

"Sir, on 15 October 2000 I was up at a club in Denver. Someone approached 
me and offered me cocaine," Pouncey said. He said he dipped the tip of a 
pen cap into a white powdery substance and sniffed what he is certain was 
cocaine. He later snorted methamphetamine.

On Oct. 14, while waiting in line to get into a Denver club, he said he was 
offered and accepted a hit of LSD.

Later, a sophomore cadet asked Pouncey to get him some LSD, and Pouncey did 
so twice. He said that he provided Ecstasy for three fellow cadets when 
they attended raves and parties in Denver and Colorado Springs.

Pouncey's mother, Brenda PerkinsBeeler, sobbed on the witness stand when 
she talked about her son, who was a top achiever in high school. He entered 
the academy on June 26, 1997, and his first year went well.

By the end of his sophomore year, he was talking about leaving the academy. 
His junior year was better; he dated a woman, also a cadet, but the 
relationship ended after spring break.

"I really began to see a big change in him. He was breaking up with his 
girlfriend. He decided he didn't want to fly. He just seemed to be real 
depressed. It just wasn't Stephen," she said. "I was very worried about him."

Perkins-Beeler talked to her son Oct. 16 after he tested positive for 
cocaine and meth. It wasn't until Dec. 18 - the day criminal charges were 
filed - that he wept on the telephone because Perkins-Beeler was already 
facing another family crisis.

"We've just got a lot going on in our family right now, and he was 
concerned about putting more on me," she said. "I don't think he's been 
coping very well. He's very moody. His whole family is coming apart. I'm 
very concerned about him. I don't think he's getting any help."
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