Barry Tested Positive for Cocaine Use In the Fall

Drug problems and speculation about drug use have plagued Barry through much of the latter part of his 30-year political career. In 1990, during his third term as mayor, Barry was arrested at the Vista Hotel after being videotaped smoking crack, an image that for years has haunted him and the city he led.

Barry's arrest was followed by seven weeks in treatment centers in Florida and South Carolina. He repeatedly invoked God upon his return, in keeping, a spokesman said at the time, with his 12-step, faith-based treatment program.

After serving six months for cocaine possession in the Vista incident, Barry led a political comeback in 1992, winning a D.C. Council seat and then a fourth term as mayor two years later.

While preparing to run in 2002 for an at-large council seat, U.S. Park Police reported that they found a trace of marijuana and $5 worth of crack cocaine in Barry's Jaguar while he was parked at Buzzard Point in Southwest Washington. Police never charged Barry, who then scrapped his campaign plans. When he campaigned for a Ward 8 seat in 2004, he claimed in interviews that the Park Police planted the drugs in his car.

After he was reelected to a fourth term as mayor, Barry said in an interview with Post reporters and editors that he'd made "a remarkable recovery," responding to the criticism by some that he had returned to the rigorous job of mayor too soon. He denied having a relapse with drugs and alcohol.

Barry has had numerous health troubles recently. A cancer survivor, Barry has diabetes and high blood pressure and was hospitalized at least three times last year.

Still, the former mayor, when well, has kept a regular public schedule of council meetings and community events.

Barry was released in late October on his personal recognizance until sentencing under several conditions ordered by Robinson. He had to continue to live at his residence on Douglas Place SE, alert the court if he traveled outside the Washington area and follow instructions of his probation officer. He also had to submit to being fingerprinted, photographed and tested for drugs.

Under the plea deal, prosecutors reserved the right to scrap that agreement if Barry failed to comply with all the terms.

Judges have considerable discretion in deciding how to handle defendants who violate conditions of their release, court officials said, and they typically weigh the seriousness of the infraction in deciding whether to jail defendants. When defendants are sentenced, however, even minor violations are typically mentioned in open court and considered relevant in assessing the defendant's overall conduct.

Staff writer Robert E. Pierre contributed to this report.