AIRMAN FACES DRUG-USE CHARGES

Air Force Investigation Targets 15 At Cheyenne Mountain, Peterson

The first court-martial involving suspected drug use by 15 airmen working
in Cheyenne Mountain and at Peterson Air Force Base is scheduled to start
Thursday.

Airman Prince Goodridge faces three charges of using the designer drug
Ecstasy and LSD as well as 15 charges of larceny, said Capt. Brenda
Campbell, a Peterson spokeswoman.

The Air Force did not release his age or hometown, citing privacy laws. He
faces about 80 years in prison if convicted, Campbell said.

When Goodridge came under suspicion in October, he was working as a police
officer in the 721st Security Forces Squadron at Cheyenne Mountain Air
Force Station, which is home to the operations center of the North American
Aerospace Defense Command. NORAD and Peterson function together as the
nerve center of the nation's missile warning and other space-based operations.

Air Force officials have said none of the sensitive missions were affected.

Goodridge had secret clearance, not uncommon for workers in the mountain
and at Peterson, Campbell said.

After drug use was suspected, Goodridge was reassigned to monitor the dorms
at Peterson, Campbell said. He then allegedly began stealing, she said.
Goodridge was then assigned to a unit under much tighter security that does
odd jobs around the base.

Goodridge is not considered a central figure in the drug ring, Campbell
said. Prosecutors are holding his court-martial first because he was
already facing trial on the larceny charges, she said.

The investigation, which began in June, continues, Campbell said. Besides
Goodridge, one airman has been charged but the base is not naming him
because officials said it could jeopardize the investigation.