CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- A Douglas County District Court jury
acquitted Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski Friday on
charges of illegally obtaining prescription diet pills.
|  | | Bill Romanowski reacts to being acquitted Friday on charges of illegally obtaining prescription diet pills. |
Romanowski, 35, was accused of obtaining phentermine from
prescriptions written for his wife and two other people during the
1998 season. Investigators alleged Romanowski used phentermine to
enhance his play. Phentermine is not banned by the NFL.
Romanowski, fighting back tears, said, "I am just so thankful
to the jury that they found us not guilty. I take a lot of pride in
being a good person and being a role model and a lot of that was in
question in the last two years."
Jeff Springer, one of his lawyers, said, "In reality, he was on
trial for his life. This was prosecution that was unprecedented."
"This has been a terrible, terrible ordeal," Springer said.
Jurors left the courthouse through a back door without speaking
to reporters. Prosecutors declined comment, but district attorney's
spokesman Michael Knight said a trial was necessary.
Prosecutors declined comment, but district attorney's spokesman
Michael Knight said, "We felt there was sufficient evidence to go
forward with the case. We felt we needed to bring this to a jury
for the community to have a chance to speak."
During the trial, prosecutor Michael Spear said Romanowski
arranged events to avoid taking the heat.
"He was part and parcel, indeed, because he was the person who
gained the benefit of the conspiracy," said Spear.
Defense attorneys said the sheriff's department was out to get
Romanowski.
Romanowski was charged with one count of unlawful possession of
a controlled substance, one count of obtaining a controlled
substance by fraud and deceit, and two counts of conspiracy.
His wife, Julie Romanowski, is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 14
on eight counts of illegally obtaining phentermine and one count of
conspiracy.
Bill Romanowski is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who helped the
Broncos win Super Bowls in 1998 and 1999.
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