TESTIMONY CONFLICTS AT CADET'S DRUG HEARING

AIR FORCE ACADEMY - Two witnesses who testified Tuesday in an Article
32 hearing for a cadet accused of using drugs gave inconsistent
accounts of whether he committed the offense.

Cadet Shane Thomas was charged Oct. 31 with wrongful use of Ecstasy
and ketamine, an animal tranquilizer, and wrongfully communicating a
verbal threat to another cadet. The alleged drug offenses occurred
between Aug. 1, 2002, and Nov. 1, 2002.

An Article 32 hearing is similar to a preliminary hearing and
determines whether there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.
The hearing resumes today. If convicted of the charges, Thomas could
face up to 13 years in jail.

One cadet, now serving 13 months in prison for use and distribution of
illegal drugs at the academy, testified Tuesday that he never saw
Thomas use ketamine.

Another cadet, who is also now in jail, testified that Thomas had used
ketamine, but he could not remember when or where.