FORMER BANGOR MAYOR BLAMES BAD DRUG TEST ON BREAD

Robert Janus says poppy seeds in slices of Christmas loaf caused his return
to prison.

The former Bangor mayor convicted last year on drug charges is back in
Northampton County Prison, but this time the source of his problem may have
been his baker.

Robert Janus, shackled and standing before Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden,
said the drug test that put him in back in prison two weeks ago registered
a false reading because of poppy seeds in the Russian bread he ate over the
Christmas holiday.

He said he may have strayed from his diet, but not his drug program.

"Poppy seed roll is a tradition for Russian and Czech Christmas," Janus
said. "I must have had six slices that Friday before I went in for my urine
test. I took absolutely no drugs."

McFadden ruled that Janus would stay in prison but be given immediate work
release so he can keep his construction job until the results of more
detailed drug testing come back next week.

If the tests show the substance was poppy, Janus will be released. If it
turns up heroin, he will be returned to prison for the rest of his sentence.

"You have immediate work release," McFadden said. "And no poppy seeds --
don't even eat anything that looks good."

Janus, 48, pleaded guilty last year to three counts of cocaine possession
and one count each of cocaine delivery, obstructing the administration of
law and hindering apprehension or prosecution for tipping off drug dealers
to an undercover police investigation in the Bangor area.

In return for providing the drug dealers with information about the sting,
dubbed Operation Clean Slate, he got free cocaine or bought it at a reduced
price, police said.

He was sentenced to 11-23 months in prison. On Nov. 3, after serving nine
months, he was fitted for an electronic ankle device and permitted to serve
the rest of his sentence on house arrest.

In a jailhouse interview in the fall, Janus said his judgment was clouded
by drug addiction. He said he was clean and rejuvenated by his counseling
programs.

"Whew," Janus said as he walked away from McFadden's court knowing he could
keep his job -- at least for now.

"I don't want the man to lose his job -- if, in fact, it's from poppy
seeds," McFadden said.