Tyndall Airman convicted in prescription drug case Published Aug. 25, 2006 By Capt. Robert Caridad 325th Fighter Wing Legal Office TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AETCNS) -- A Tyndall Airman was convicted of two specifications of wrongful use of prescription drugs at a special court-martial held Nov. 4 here. Senior Airman Philip Jones, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was convicted by a military judge of violating Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In particular, Airman Jones admitted he knowingly and wrongfully used Oxycodone, a powerful painkiller, for which he did not hold a valid prescription. A professed addict, Airman Jones told the court how he crushed an Oxycontin pill and snorted the powder through a rolled-up dollar bill. In addition, he also admitted to wrongfully using Methadone by dissolving a pill in water and consuming it for which he paid $40. The Methadone, which is commonly prescribed to heroin addicts to wean them from their addictions, was obtained from an illicit source and was not prescribed to Airman Jones. The Airman, who pled guilty to the offenses, tested positive for the two drugs on separate urinalyses conducted during two consecutive weeks. After reviewing documentary evidence, taking testimony, and hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense, the judge returned a sentence which included three months confinement, reduction to airman basic and a bad conduct discharge. The conviction was the fifth at Tyndall this year for illegal drug use, and it was the first to involve the abuse of prescription medication. "This case demonstrates that the Air Force is not immune to the prescription drug abuse that occurs in the civilian world," said Capt. Rosemary Gilliam, trial counsel on the case. "Our mission simply is not compatible with this criminal misuse of narcotics."