KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Ex-Knox County School Board member Bill Phillips, who resigned following a guilty plea for misdemeanor assault, is now facing drug charges in Knox and Union counties.
Phillips, 47, is indicted in Union County for allegedly trying to buy a prescription sleeping aid called Triazolam through fraud. It happened in May at a Ride Aid drugstore in Maynardville.
The indictment was handed down on June 16 by a Union County Grand Jury.
Phillips also faces two counts of acquisition of a controlled substance, fraud or forgery and one count of identity theft in Knox County.
Court affidavits say Phillips is accused of using the name William Davis and calling in a fake prescription for Halcion, which contains Triazolam. He allegedly admitted to the deception during an interview with sheriff's investigators.
The Knox County charges are for crimes Phillips is accused of committing in July.
Phillips' attorney, T. Scott Jones, released this statement on Phillips' behalf:
"Mr. Phillips and his family request understanding and support as he addresses the demons of addiction that have controlled his life and have led him to make decisions not in conformity with his character and moral beliefs. He enjoys the support of his family during this time and is taking responsibility for his actions and is anxious to enter inpatient rehab now that the monkey is off his back and his addiction has confronted him directly and unavoidably in the face."
Phillips pleaded guilty in February 2009 to misdemeanor assault for a 2008 incident involving an altercation with his wife. He told 6 News that a combination of drugs including a prescription sleep aid called Ambien may have contributed to the incident.
He resigned from the school board in January 2010 after refusing earlier requests to step down. His fellow board members voted unanimously in March 2009 to censure him over his guilty plea.
Phillips pleaded guilty in July to vandalism for running over the mailbox in April belonging to a man who led a recall effort against him.
Bill Phillips (source: Knox County Sheriff's Office)
