Reservist in court on weapons charge

An Air Force reservist is scheduled to appear in federal court this morning, accused of trying to board a St. George-bound flight with a loaded handgun in his carry-on luggage.

Richard Alan Boyce was arrested Sunday after security screeners at Salt Lake City International Airport allegedly discovered the firearm. Boyce, 41, is charged with one count of carrying a dangerous weapon on an aircraft.

An employee with the Transportation Security Administration contacted Salt Lake City police after seeing an image of the 9 mm handgun on her X-ray screen, according to charging documents filed Tuesday.

Upon a thorough search of the carry-on bag, a federal air marshal discovered several different types of pills, a vial of an injectable drug and what appeared to be a forged prescription for a muscle relaxant, documents state. It was also determined that the firearm's magazine, which was in the weapon, contained 10 rounds of ammunition.

Boyce allegedly told police he always carries a handgun in his briefcase, and that he "simply forgot to remove the gun prior to traveling," according to court documents.

The medication, including four unidentified pills allegedly found in a metal eyeglass case in Boyce's carry-on bag, has been sent to the state crime lab for analysis. Boyce told police he knew nothing about the pills, which an agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency speculated were "most likely" ecstasy, according to court documents.

Charges indicate Boyce is a self-employed nurse anesthetist and a major with an Air Force Reserve unit out of Denver. An Air Force spokeswoman confirmed Boyce is attached to the 99th Medical Operation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where he told police he does drills once a year.

Boyce will make an initial appearance on the charge, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence, this morning before U.S. Magistrate David Nuffer. He is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail pending a detention hearing.

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Contributing: Leigh Dethman

E-mail: awelling@desnews.com