DOCTOR CHARGED IN OXYCONTIN-RELATED DEATHS ARRAIGNED IN FEDERAL COURT

ROANOKE, Va. -- A pain specialist and his assistant pleaded innocent
Thursday to charges that include illegally distributing painkillers
and contributing to the death or serious injury of 10 people.

Dr. Cecil B. Knox III, 52, and Tiffany T. Durham were indicted early
this month with three other health care workers at the Southwest
Virginia Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation P.C.

Beverly G. Boone, 43, who also was charged with contributing to the
deaths, pleaded innocent on Feb. 14. Willard Newbill James Jr., 56,
and Kathleen G. O'Gee also pleaded innocent Thursday to health care
fraud.

Prosecutors claim that Knox illegally dispensed OxyContin and several
other prescription narcotics to anyone who asked with little
knowledge of their medical condition.

According to search warrant applications filed by federal authorities
last summer, Knox continued to prescribe narcotics to patients he
knew were drug addicts. One patient traded marijuana with Knox in
exchange for OxyContin and methadone, the documents said.

About 40 former patients filled the courtroom during Knox's
arraignment, many of them supporting themselves on canes or sitting
in wheelchairs behind the back row.

"We want our doctor back," said Allen Calhoun, 48, who hurt his back
in a motorcycle accident.

After his arrest, Knox was given 10 days to refer his patients to
others. But only a few dozen of Knox's 800 patients have been able to
find doctors willing to treat them for their ailments.

"This is hell," said Debra Snavley, 37, of Dublin. "For 3 years, he's
been my savior."

"He took us in when no one else would," said Jodie Hare, 50, a former
nurse who received therapy at Knox's health clinic for a neurological
condition. Instead of drugs, Hare said, Knox treated her with
vitamins and massage therapy. "He just looked at me, and he knew what
I needed."

If convicted on all counts, Knox, Boone and Durham would face maximum
penalties of life in prison and a fine of about $27 million. Knox
also is facing a $1.55 million wrongful-death lawsuit by the wife a
former patient who she said died of an overdose in Knox's care.

U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee would not specify how many people died
under Knox's care, but he said the allegations against Knox were
similar to those against Dr. James Graves of Florida, who was
convicted Tuesday of manslaughter for prescribing medication to four
patients who overdosed.

Brownlee said he is aware of the problems that patients have had, but
"we feel confident our evidence supports the allegations."