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Trial date set Romanowski's wife pleads innocent to providing drugs
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) -- The wife of Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski pleaded innocent Tuesday to conspiracy and eight felony counts alleging she fraudulently obtained a prescription appetite suppressant for her husband. Douglas County District Judge Thomas Curry scheduled a four-day jury trial beginning March 13 for Julie Romanowski, who was charged in November 1999, along with a doctor and two friends, of conspiring to fraudulently obtain phentermine. Each of the eight counts against Julie Romanowski is punishable by one to three years in prison and a fine of $1,000 to $100,000. She could face one year to 18 months and the same fine on the conspiracy count. Drug experts are divided on the effects of the drug on athletes. Some say it would be of little or no use to athletes wishing to enhance their performance, while others say it could help by speeding up the metabolism. Julie Romanowski, accompanied by attorney Harvey Steinberg, declined comment after the brief hearing. A Nov. 6 motions hearing has been scheduled for Bill Romanowski, all but ensuring he will not stand trial until after the NFL season. He is charged with using a prescription drug prescribed for somebody else. Dr. Randall L. Snook, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully dispensing a controlled substance, resigned from his medical practice in September after the federal government cut him off from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. He received 18 months' probation. Lori Johnson, a friend of Julie Romanowski's, pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to illegally obtain a prescription drug. According to an indictment, Bill Romanowski worked with his wife, Johnson, Snook and Glen Schmelter to get phentermine seven times between September 1998 and January 1999. The indictment also says Bill Romanowski and the others agreed to cover up their alleged actions if questioned by authorities.
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