CADET GETS 42 MONTHS IN PRISON

Jan. 31, 2001 - AIR FORCE ACADEMY - A senior cadet at the Air Force Academy
who admitted he had used drugs and shared them with fellow cadets was
sentenced Tuesday to 42 months in federal prison at Leavenworth, Kan. Cadet
Stephen D. Pouncey, 22, of Austin, Texas, is the only cadet named so far in
a drug probe involving 35 cadets. The investigation continues for 13
cadets, although one has already resigned from the academy. Nine others
have been disciplined because they knew of the illicit activity but didn't
tell authorities; 12 have been exonerated.

During a court-martial on Tuesday, Pouncey admitted he used LSD, Ecstasy
and methamphetamine. He also said he provided Ecstasy to three other cadets
on 10 to 15 occasions from May 1 to Oct. 16 and provided LSD to a sophomore
cadet twice in October.

"I'd like to express how sorry I am for my conduct," said Pouncey, who will
also forfeit pay and be dismissed from the Air Force. "There's no excuse
for my involvement in drugs."

He apologized to his fellow cadets and commanders, and said it was never
his intention to place the academy in such a bad light. He implored cadets
to stay away from drugs and learn from his mistake.

"If you're involved with drugs, stop. And if you're thinking about using
drugs, don't," Pouncey said.

Defense attorneys said another cadet introduced Pouncey to Ecstasy in May.
On Oct. 16, Pouncey, who had trained to be a pilot, gave a urine sample
that tested positive for cocaine and metham phetamine. Pouncey then aided
in the academy's investigation, providing names of other cadets who may
have used drugs.

"Sir, on 15 October 2000 I was up at a club in Denver. Someone approached
me and offered me cocaine," Pouncey said. He said he dipped the tip of a
pen cap into a white powdery substance and sniffed what he is certain was
cocaine. He later snorted methamphetamine.

On Oct. 14, while waiting in line to get into a Denver club, he said he was
offered and accepted a hit of LSD.

Later, a sophomore cadet asked Pouncey to get him some LSD, and Pouncey did
so twice. He said that he provided Ecstasy for three fellow cadets when
they attended raves and parties in Denver and Colorado Springs.

Pouncey's mother, Brenda PerkinsBeeler, sobbed on the witness stand when
she talked about her son, who was a top achiever in high school. He entered
the academy on June 26, 1997, and his first year went well.

By the end of his sophomore year, he was talking about leaving the academy.
His junior year was better; he dated a woman, also a cadet, but the
relationship ended after spring break.

"I really began to see a big change in him. He was breaking up with his
girlfriend. He decided he didn't want to fly. He just seemed to be real
depressed. It just wasn't Stephen," she said. "I was very worried about him."

Perkins-Beeler talked to her son Oct. 16 after he tested positive for
cocaine and meth. It wasn't until Dec. 18 - the day criminal charges were
filed - that he wept on the telephone because Perkins-Beeler was already
facing another family crisis.

"We've just got a lot going on in our family right now, and he was
concerned about putting more on me," she said. "I don't think he's been
coping very well. He's very moody. His whole family is coming apart. I'm
very concerned about him. I don't think he's getting any help."