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DEA agent denies claims Lawyer says investigator it out to get Romanowski
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) -- A federal agent Thursday admitted he gave his partner a high five after a doctor allowed them to listen in on his conversation with Julie Romanowski, wife of Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski, during an investigation into alleged misuse of prescription drugs. But Kyle Bannon of the Drug Enforcement Administration denied claims by the Romanowskis' lawyer that he was bent on getting the couple prosecuted. The Romanowskis are accused of illegally obtaining a prescription diet drug phentermine for Bill Romanowski. The drug was prescribed for Julie Romanowski and a friend. Romanowski is charged with one count each of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and deceit and two counts of conspiracy. His trial is scheduled May 1. Julie Romanowski is charged with eight counts of illegally obtaining diet pills and one count of conspiracy. Her trial is scheduled March 13. Both have pleaded not guilty. The Romanowskis' lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, has asked Douglas County District Judge Thomas Curry to prohibit prosecutors from introducing as trial evidence that Bannon and sheriff's deputies conducted with the Romanowskis at their house. He said the couple was never advised of their Miranda rights. Curry did not rule on any of the motions Thursday. Another hearing has been set for March 6. Steinberg has filed a motion to dismiss the case. He said Thursday he planned to argue investigators were guilty of "outrageous conduct." At Thursday's hearing, Steinberg said Bannon showed up at a mall and glared at the Romanowskis while they signed autographs for charity in August 1999. Bannon said he was only there to meet with a sheriff's deputy who had helped on the case and was working at the mall. He said a fireplace blocked his view of couple. Julie Romanowski, who came to court on crutches because of a ski injury, shook her head in disagreement. Steinberg also claimed Bannon threatened the couple's nanny with deportation if she did not help the investigation. Bannon denied that. The hearing was closed for nearly two hours while attorneys presented arguments about whether conversations between the Romanowskis and Dr. Randall L. Snook, who pleaded guilty to providing the diet pills, are protected by doctor-client privilege. Snook was sentenced to 18 months of probation. Lori Johnson, the friend accused of helping Bill Romanowski get the diet pills, pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally obtain a prescription drug.
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