BANGOR – University of Maine football star Stephen Cooper is expected to plead guilty today in United States District Court to possession of anabolic steroid pills.

The 23-year-old senior, an All-America linebacker for the Black Bears, is charged with a Class A misdemeanor. Steroids are illegal unless prescribed by a doctor. The drugs enhance muscle mass and improve athletic performance, but also can have serous side effects such as liver damage and mood swings.

Cooper, of Wareham, Mass., faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail, and/or a minimum fine of $1,000 and one year of probation. Because Cooper has no prior criminal record, he may not face any jail time, according to his Bangor attorney Terrence Harrigan.

Sentencing will be set after the first of the year when a pre-sentencing report is expected to be completed, Harrigan said.

On Nov. 1, Cooper was a passenger in a vehicle driven by former teammate and fellow UMaine student Patrick Kenney, who was pulled over by the Maine State Police in the southbound lane of Interstate 95 in Hampden and charged with speeding.

During the stop, trooper Michael Johnston asked for and received permission to search the vehicle. He reportedly discovered about 1,000 pills of what were determined to be oxymetholone in a duffel bag. Cooper reportedly admitted they were steroids and that the duffel bag was his.

Federal law classifies steroids as a Schedule III controlled substance, in same the legal class as amphetamines, methamphetamines, opium and morphine. State law lists steroids a Class Y drug, placing them below cocaine, heroin and amphetemines but just above marijuana, according to Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland.

Neither Cooper nor Daniel Perry, the assistant U.S. Attorney handling the case, is talking with the media. Harrigan, however, said last week that his client would issue a written statement today following his court appearance.

UMaine President Peter Hoff said last week that he is looking into the issues surrounding Cooper’s situation and the fact school officials allowed him to compete after the incident.