DATE SET FOR 2ND KNOX TRIAL

The Roanoke Pain Specialist and His Office Manager Are Scheduled to Be
Tried in November.

The second federal trial of a Roanoke pain specialist and his office
manager was set Wednesday for November, according to the federal court
schedule.

Cecil Byron Knox, 54, and Beverly Gale Boone, 45, are set to be tried in
Roanoke from Nov. 1 through 24, according to the court docket.

Knox faces charges that he prescribed medication such as OxyContin outside
the scope of legitimate medical practice, and that in some cases those
prescriptions led to death or serious bodily injury. He could face a life
sentence if convicted of those counts.

Knox and Boone, who both live in Roanoke County, are also charged with
racketeering, conspiracy, fraud and taking illegal kickbacks. Knox also
faces a perjury charge.

In October, at their first trial, a jury acquitted Knox and Boone on many
of the federal charges but could not reach a decision on the other counts.
Those counts still remain unresolved, and federal prosecutors have since
sought new charges in the case.

Chief U.S. District Judge Samuel Wilson has dismissed federal charges
against two other defendants in the case: licensed professional counselor
Willard Newbill "Bill" James Jr. of Roanoke and Kathleen O'Gee of Pulaski.

A fifth defendant in the case, former receptionist Tiffany Durham, pleaded
guilty on the eve of the first trial to knowing that criminal activity was
going on at the practice and not reporting it.