Pubdate: Fri, 23 Sep 2005
Source: Kennebec Journal (ME)
Copyright: 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.centralmaine.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1405
Author: Betty Adams, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

JAIL TIME IN METHADONE DEATH

A Belgrade man will serve two years behind bars for supplying the 
methadone that killed an Augusta woman a year and a half ago.

Thomas D. Eaton, 21, had pleaded guilty in March to aggravated 
furnishing of methadone in connection with the death of Lisa Bickford 
of Augusta on March 3, 2004.

He was sentenced Tuesday by Justice Joseph Jabar in Somerset County 
Superior Court to six years in prison, with all but two years 
suspended, then four years of probation.

Bickford, originally of Weeks Mills, was 21 when she was found dead 
in her home.

Eaton at one point attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, but later 
switched attorneys and dropped that effort. At the hearing Tuesday, 
Eaton was represented by Tom Goodwin.

In court, Eaton told the judge he lives with the memory of Bickford every day.

Assistant Attorney General James Cameron said Eaton had a misdemeanor 
criminal record unrelated to drugs.

Cameron said Eaton admitted giving Bickford his methadone.

He said he gave it to her at her request because she told him she was 
going through withdrawal, Cameron said.

Methadone is a legal, synthetic narcotic meant to help heroin addicts 
control their cravings until they can be weaned from the drug.

"Methadone is a very effective treatment for opiate addiction. 
However, it is a very dangerous drug when it is used by people who 
are not following doctor's orders," Cameron said. "It is people who 
divert their prescribed methadone who give a bad name to all 
methadone treatment, and that's a terrible thing, because methadone 
does help many people provide normal lives."

Court records show Eaton faces a burglary charge stemming from an 
incident June 20 in Belgrade in which he is accused of stealing items 
from the home of a family member.

He has been jailed since spring.

Bickford's death and two others that occurred in Augusta around the 
same time triggered an investigation by police into the possibility 
that a new, purer form of heroin had arrived in the area.
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