The man responsible for selling almost 4 liters of a date-rape drug to an undercover police officer will spend 8 1/2 years behind bars.
Stephen Howard, former lab technician in the department of polymer and fiber engineering, was sentenced in a federal courtroom by Judge Morton H. Thompson on Wednesday, Feb. 24, for two counts of distribution of 1,4 butanediol, one count of possession of 1,4 butanediol with intent to distribute and one count of possession of methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty to these charges Oct. 28.
Howard will serve 18 months for the possession of 1,4 butanediol with intent to distribute and the counts of distribution of 1,4 butanediol. He will serve 12 months for the possession of methamphetamine. These sentences will run concurrently.
Howard pleaded guilty to the third of his six counts, brandishing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime Dec.7. Because of that plea, the fifth count of his indictment, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, was dismissed. He will serve 84 months for that crime.
The prosecution argued that the sentence should carry the abuse of trust enhancement because Howard represented himself as an authority figure on how to use the drug.
Maria Auad, associate professor of chemical engineering and Howard's former supervisor, said 1,4 butanediol is used to make plastics and foams, but turns into GHB if ingested.
"You need to have skills in order to understand the process," Auad said.
She said she had "considerably more" trust for Howard, who was a level four lab tech, than other lower-ranking technicians. She said he was in charge of lab safety, inventory and disposing of waste.
Christopher Carver, an Auburn Police Division officer assigned to the FBI, began investigating Howard in early 2015. He said he heard about Howard after a separate drug-related arrest.
"He spoke of an individual employed by Auburn University ... he knew his first name to be Steve," Carver said.
Carver sent police undercover to buy 1,4 butanediol on two separate occasions. The first time, the agent bought 20 ounces, the second time, it was 3 liters.
Carver said Howard was specific about how to use the drug, saying too much would make a person pass out and a small amount "would make whoever ingested it feel euphoric and party and horny."
Howard ordered the drug through the University, but paid with his personal credit card, according to Carver.
"He described himself as the water faucet," Carver said. "That he was the man."
Water is the street name for GHB, according to Verne Spiers, assistant United States attorney.
Jonathan Ross, one of the prosecutors, said the abuse of trust enhancement applied because of Howard's autonomy in the department of polymer and fiber engineering. He had one performance review per year.
"In this case, Auburn University was the victim," Ross said.
John Lovell, Howard's defense attorney, said all of the statements needed to be taken into context. He said Howard never intended to hurt anyone with the drugs, or commit violent crimes.
"He specifically said, and I'm paraphrasing, 'Who wants to have sex with a woman who is unconscious?'" Lovell said.
Molton sustained the defense's objection, and said the abuse of trust enhancement would not be applied to the sentencing.
The defense also argued that Howard should only serve the 84 months for the gun charge, and one day for the drug charges. They cited his age and health as factors, as well as only one previous arrest, a DUI.
"He got involved in a lifestyle that spun out of control," Lovell said.
However, the prosecution said he had violent intentions, citing a recorded conversation with the undercover officer where Howard said he wanted to carve the word "whore" into a woman's forehead, and then pour ink into it so the mark would be permanent.
The defense called that statement "puffing," and called Howard's daughter, Kelly Howard Farr, to testify.
"My dad likes to talk big," Farr said.
However, Spiers said Howard's guns, including a short shotgun, negated the argument.
Morton denied the defense's request of a one-day sentence for the drug charges.
"Even if he is puffing, what he said about women ... how could I give him a day?" Morton said.
Before Morton handed down the sentence, Howard, who was dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit stamped with "Montgomery Municipal Jail," spoke before the court. He apologized to his friends, family, the University and community. He said this has damaged his relationship with his 90-year-old father.
"He won't speak to me," Howard said through tears. "I've shamed and embarrassed him."
Howard said he became involved with drugs and prostitution in 2014 and was trying to help the prostitutes at first.
"I feel drugs were the main reason for my behavior," Howard said.
Howard will be approximately 72 years old when he is released. The court recommended that he is sent to a prison with a drug treatment program.
Upon his release from prison, he will be under supervised release for three years and will be subject to drug testing and searches during that time.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
