This article was sent in by Bob from the Ledger-Enquirer:

Government says Benoit doctor violated bail conditions

By HARRY R. WEBER - Associated Press Writer --

ATLANTA --

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Horn displayed surveillance photographs at a court hearing that he said show Dr. Phil Astin shopping at stores, eating at a restaurant and even visiting the home of his ex-wife despite a restraining order she has against him.

Astin's bail conditions restrict him to his home except to go to church, see a doctor, visit with his attorney or attend a court hearing in his case.

Also Friday, Horn said the government has obtained evidence that Benoit and his slain wife had been abusing painkillers that were prescribed by Astin before the June killings at Benoit's suburban Atlanta home. Previously, investigators had only specified the steroids found in the home.

Horn also said prosecutors have reviewed dozens of Astin's patient files showing he had prescribed dosages of the drugs methadone and Oxycontin for other patients "well in excess of what is legitimate medical practice."

The disclosures came at a hearing at which Astin asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Walker to ease his bail conditions to allow him to leave his west Georgia home eight hours a day to work for a towing service that has offered him a job.

But after the government produced the photographs, defense attorney Natasha Silas asked for a recess until next month so she can review the evidence.

"I'm not used to dealing with hearings that are going on ambush," Silas said, accusing the government of surprising her with the photos. "That is what it is."

Walker continued the hearing until Jan. 4, after which she plans to rule on the defense motion. Horn said Walker should consider making Astin's bail conditions more restrictive rather than less. Walker did not immediately rule on that request.

Astin has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of improperly prescribing painkillers and other drugs to two patients other than Benoit. More charges are expected.

The charges against Astin grew out of a probe of the killings at the Benoit home.

Suspicions linking steroid use to the killings have lingered, since anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home and tests showed Benoit had roughly 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system.

Authorities have said Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks for a year leading up to the killings.

Authorities said Benoit, 40, strangled his wife with a cord, used a choke hold to strangle his son, placed Bibles next to the bodies and hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment the weekend of June 22 in their Fayetteville home.