AFA CADET FACES COURT-MARTIAL

Trial To Begin Jan. 30 On Charges Of Using, Distributing Drugs; 55-year
Term Possible

COLORADO SPRINGS — The Air Force Academy has decided to court-martial a
senior cadet charged with using and distributing illegal drugs.

Academy officials said Tuesday that Cadet 1st Class Stephen D. Pouncey's
trial will begin Jan. 30 on charges of distributing ecstasy and LSD, and of
using cocaine, LSD, ecstasy and methamphetamines.

Pouncey, who is one semester from graduation, faces up to 55 years in
military prison if convicted on the charges.

Pouncey's court-martial is the culmination of a three-month drug inquiry at
the academy that led to the investigation of 14 other cadets in three
unrelated drug cases. One of those has dropped out of the academy.

School officials would not disclose whether anyone besides Pouncey is under
investigation for distribution of drugs.

Five of the cadets are alleged to have used the popular stimulant and
hallucinogen, ecstasy.

Widely used in all-night "rave" parties, ecstasy is "the drug of choice
across the country right now," academy spokesman Neil Talbott said.

Four cadets are alleged to have used marijuana, three LSD and one Blue
Nitro, another stimulant.

Academy officials said 12 other cadets who were under suspicion have been
exonerated.

Nine others have been disciplined under the cadet disciplinary system for
knowing about illegal drug use but failing to report it. The nine were not
themselves accused of using drugs.

Academy officials have called the drug use "deeply disturbing."

"Cadets who attend the academy are taught from the day they arrive that
illegal behavior will not be tolerated," said the academy's vice
superintendent, Col. Brian Binn.

"Every cadet at the academy is aware that their choices have consequences,"
Binn said.

The academy will increase the frequency of random drug tests.

Ecstasy quickly disappears from the body, making it difficult to detect
within a day or two of use.

Currently, random tests will include 2,500 to 2,700 cadets, about 65
percent of the school's student body, over the course of a year.