INFORMANT DESCRIBES DOCTOR VISITS

Prosecution Plays Tapes Of Graves

After nearly three weeks of testimony, jurors on Thursday heard what went
on during an office visit with Dr. James Graves.

The Pace doctor discussed fishing, NASCAR and deer hunting, signed up a
patient for long-distance telephone service and briefly talked about
medications he prescribed.

He also talked about the street value of OxyContin.

Five separate visits to Graves were recorded between September 1999 and
February 2000 by Paul Mylock, a patient and confidential informant working
with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They were played in court
Thursday.

The prosecution is finishing its case against Graves, who is accused of
overprescribing a powerful mix of medications, including OxyContin. Four of
Graves patients overdosed and died in the days and weeks after they visited
him and obtained prescriptions.

The defense argues Graves was merely treating the patients and many were
addicts who lied to get the drugs.

Mylock, 30, testified his stepmother referred him to Graves. He suffered
headaches and back pain. At first, Graves prescribed Lortabs, but after a
few visits, the doctor suggested OxyContin.

"He said he was sure I would like that," Mylock testified.

Now, Mylock said: "I dream about the pills at night."

He decided to cooperate with law enforcement officers on the advice of his
attorney for possible favorable treatment after his arrest on drug-related
charges. As an informant, he agreed not to fill the prescriptions.

The first recorded visit - Sept. 20, 1999 - lasted about five minutes,
about average for a follow-up office visit.

Graves asked how Mylock was doing, whether he operated any heavy equipment
in his job and then prescribed Lortab, Vioxx, Xanax and OxyContin.

During the second recorded visit - Oct. 28, 1999 - Graves told Mylock of
several pharmacies that were recently robbed of OxyContin. The doctor said
OxyContin fetched $50-$75 a pill on the street. Mylock left with similar
prescriptions.

Mylock next recorded his visit with Graves on Jan. 21, 2000. Graves told
him he once was the doctor at a NASCAR race in Talladega and got five
tickets at the finish line. Mylock told Graves he quit smoking and "dipping."

They chatted a bit about steroids, then Graves asked: "The OxyContin still
holding your pain pretty well?"

Mylock said yes and left with a prescription of Lortab, Soma, OxyContin and
other drugs.

During the following visit - Feb. 10, 2000 - Mylock told Graves he was
taking three 80- milligram OxyContin pills a day.

"It's OK to be taking the 40 milligrams three times a day, but not the
80s," Graves responded. "So, let's split the dose up."

Graves said Mylock should take the "40s" for "average pain" and the higher
dosage for more pain.

OxyContin is a time-released synthetic opiate meant for people in severe
pain, such as those with end-stage cancer. Though addicts sometimes crush
the pills and inject them, Mylock said he swallowed them because he is
afraid of needles.

Graves took the most time with Mylock during the last visit on Feb. 24,
2000, because Mylock signed up for Excel phone service, a process that took
45 minutes.

With classical music playing in the background, Graves filled out Mylock's
application.

At one point, there was a computer problem and Graves told an Excel
representative on speakerphone: "I'm his doctor, and I'm also an Excel rep."

The computer problem was hurting business, Graves continued. He hung up the
phone and turned to writing Mylock's prescriptions:

"Now, let's do your chart," Graves said.

Mylock admitted he visited Graves on Nov. 18, 1999, and didn't tell FDLE
agents. After that visit, he filled the prescriptions. He also admitted
keeping and filling one prescription from one of the recorded visits.

Graves Trial

Dr. James Graves, 54, of Pace is charged with manslaughter, racketeering
and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. If convicted, he faces 15
to 30 years in prison.

The trial is in the Santa Rosa County Courthouse in Milton before Circuit
Judge Kenneth Bell.