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Drug trial begins for Romanowski
Updated: Tuesday June 26, 2001 7:50 PM
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) -- A doctor knew he was providing diet pills for Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski when he wrote prescriptions for other people, Romanowski's lawyer told jurors Tuesday. Romanowski, 35, is accused of obtaining the appetite suppressant phentermine from prescriptions written for his wife, Julie, and a family friend during the 1998 season. Defense lawyer Harvey Steinberg argued that Dr. Randall Snook knew the pills were for Romanowski and was trying to shield the athlete from attention. "What this case comes down to is much ado about nothing," he said. "He was trying to protect what he was concerned about, the high profile of Mr. Romanowski." The trial began after a 12 jurors and an alternate were seated Tuesday. Julie Romanowski is charged with eight counts of illegally obtaining diet pills and one count of conspiracy. Her trial is scheduled Aug. 14. Snook pleaded guilty to providing the pills and was sentenced to 18 months' probation. A friend of Romanowski, Loretta Johnson, also has pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally obtain a prescription drug. In opening statements, prosecutor Michael Spear said a pharmacist became concerned when Julie Romanowski tried to fill a prescription for the diet drug in 1998. "He was not seeing someone that was obese," Spear said. "This was not, in his eyes at least, something that should be prescribed for a thin individual." Later, Johnson testified, Julie Romanowski asked her to get a prescription under her name. "She wanted it to be put in my name because the name Romanowski makes a lot of attention," Johnson said. Johnson also picked up prescriptions for ephedrine, she said. Defensive line coach John Teerlinck testified that his daughter's name also was used to fill prescriptions, without his knowledge. His daughter was the Romanowskis' nanny. Teerlinck said Bill Romanowski has since apologized that the daughter's name was involved. "He said he felt real bad," Teerlinck said. "He said it was a mistake. He was real sorry the way it turned out." The trial is expected to last four days. Earlier Tuesday, District Judge Thomas Curry denied a motion to dismiss the charges against Romanowski. Steinberg had argued the charges were based on a vague statute. Romanowski is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who helped the Broncos win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998. He also won two Super Bowl rings with San Francisco. He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, two counts of conspiracy and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and deceit.
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