Former Sgt. Says He Helped Ft. Lewis Soldier Buy Drugs

A fellow soldier testified Wednesday that he helped Pvt. Tim Bennitt buy drugs several times prior to the overdose death of a teenage girl in Bennitt’s barracks.

An Article 32 hearing is being held for Bennitt, 19, of Rolling Prairie, Ind., in connection with the Feb. 15 death of 16-year-old Leah King.

Investigators say Bennitt brought King and another girl to his barracks and gave them prescription drugs, which were then crushed and snorted through a dollar bill.

Leah King - Fort Lewis death

In day 2 of the hearing, Pvt. Michael Bravo said he helped facilitate the purchase of drugs for Bennitt by acting as a go-between, introducing Bennitt to someone he knew in the medical field who had access to prescription painkillers.

Bravo was a sergeant who has since been demoted to private due to drinking, drugs and other problems since his return from Iraq last summer.

Bravo said he helped Bennitt purchase OxyContin from a supplier as many as 10 times, with Bennitt purchasing $200 to $300 at each purchase.

The U.S. Army alleges Bennitt was actively involved in the sale of drugs to other soldiers on Fort Lewis.

Bravo admitted under oath that he had illegally taken prescription painkillers on several occasions, and that he may face repercussions as a result of his sworn statement to investigators admitting his involvement with Bennitt in the purchase of drugs.

He said he has not been offered any deals for his testimony, but said his discharge from the Army, which had been scheduled for late April, has been pushed back until the end of July while his legal issues are dealt with.

Bravo mumbled, hung his head and often seemed confused during his testimony. At one point when he was asked if the information he made in a sworn statement to Army CID investigators was true and accurate, Bravo responded, "most of it."

Bravo was a non-commissioned officer with an E-5 rating, also known as a sergeant's rank, upon his return from Iraq with the 555th Engineering Battalion last summer.

Bravo said he was demoted three grades to E-2, or private, because he developed a drinking problem, showed up for duty late and was once listed as AWOL since coming home from the war zone. Bravo testified he was "self-medicating" for post-traumatic stress by drinking. He only admitted drug use under direct questioning by government attorneys.

The Article 32 hearing to determine if Bennitt will face court-martial for dealing drugs and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Leah King is continuing.

During the hearing Tuesday, Army criminal investigators said when Bennitt found King dead on the floor of his barracks at Fort Lewis, the first thing he did was try to call her sister.

Investigators said the sister's boyfriend answered and heard Bennitt in a panic.

"She's dead, she's dead. What do I do? What do I do?” Bennitt said at the hearing.

On the stand, Army CID special agent Adam Armstrong testified about the night King died. He said he found Bennitt nervous, crying and busily texting someone later identified as King's older sister.

Armstrong said the sister texted Bennitt, "What the **** did you give her?"

He said Bennitt responded, "I know of Opana the brand name of a powerful prescription painkiller.”

Armstrong said Bennitt told him he had no idea how King got the drugs that killed her.

Bennitt later admitted obtaining Opana and other drugs from several sources, including another soldier living off base in Steilacoom.

He also said the mother of one of King's friends, who was found unconscious in his barracks the night King died, also supplied him with drugs.

Bennitt could face 82 years in a military prison if convicted.

Bennitt is a heavy-construction-equipment operator who entered the military in June 2007. He deployed to Afghanistan from December 2007 through mid-May 2008.

Previous Stories: March 11, 2009: Ft. Lewis Soldier Charged With Girl's Drug Death February 19, 2009: Policies Changing On Fort Lewis After Girl's Death February 18, 2009: Girl's Fort Lewis Death Being Investigated As Drug Case February 18, 2009: Army Investigating Teen's Death As Drug Case February 17, 2009: Fort Lewis Death Identified As Lakewood Girl, 16 February 17, 2009: 16-Year-Old Girl Found Dead At Fort Lewis