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Judge issues more counts Romanowski's wife allegedly fraudulently obtained drugs
Posted: Sunday May 14, 2000 05:07 PM
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) -- A judge agreed Friday to eight more felony drug counts against the wife of Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski, already accused of conspiring to obtain a prescription diet drug for her husband. A Douglas County Court judge granted a motion allowing prosecutors to charge Julie Romanowski with eight counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, authorities said. The new charges relate to eight occasions when prosecutors claim Julie Romanowski obtained the drug Phentermine, said Michael Knight, spokesman for the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Last November, Julie Romanowski was charged with conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by fraud or deceit. A doctor and two friends of the Romanowskis, Loretta Johnson and Glen Schmelter, were also charged. Sheriff's investigators said Dr. Randall Snook of Littleton wrote eight prescriptions for Phentermine for Julie Romanowski and Johnson between September 1998 and last August. Though investigators have said they believe the drug, Phentermine, was meant for Bill Romanowski, he has not been charged. Lawyers representing him have denied he violated any laws. Johnson pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to illegally obtain a prescription drug. Under a plea agreement, the conviction will not go on her record if she complies with court orders and stays out of trouble for a year. Drug experts are divided on the effects of Phentermine, some saying it would be of little or no use to athletes wishing to enhance their performance. Others say it could aid by speeding up the metabolism. The judge who granted the prosecution's motion also took under advisement a defense motion requesting a preliminary hearing in which prosecutors would have to convince the judge there is evidence to proceed with the case, Knight said. The judge requested briefs from lawyers on both sides and asked lawyers for both sides by May 26 and said she would rule on the motion for a preliminary hearing on June 2. Each of the eight new counts against Julie Romanowski is punishable by one to three years in prison and a fine of $1,000 to $100,000, Knight said. She could face one year to 18 months and the same fine on the conspiracy count.
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