LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (July 30, 2007) — Al Gore’s son pleaded guilty Monday to possessing marijuana and other drugs, but a judge said the plea could be withdrawn and the charges dropped if he successfully completes a drug diversion program.
Authorities have said they found drugs in Al Gore III’s car after the 24-year-old was pulled over on July 4 for going 100 mph in his Toyota Prius.
He pleaded guilty Monday to two felony counts of drug possession, two misdemeanor counts of drug possession without a prescription, and one misdemeanor count of marijuana possession, the district attorney’s office said.
Jaime Coulter, senior deputy district attorney, said Gore’s sentencing will be continued until Feb. 7. If he has complied with all the conditions of the diversion program, the sentencing will be continued again for another year, with charges possibly being dropped in 2009.
“At that point, he will be able to withdraw his guilty plea as if he never entered it,” Coulter said.
Deputies who pulled Gore over said they discovered less than an ounce of marijuana and a variety of medications, including Xanax, Valium, Vicodin and Adderall. Authorities said Gore did not have a prescription for any of those medications.
Gore also was charged with a traffic infraction for speeding.
The son of the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee was previously arrested for marijuana possession in Maryland in 2003, when he was a student at Harvard University. Gore completed substance abuse counseling to settle those charges.
He now lives in Los Angeles and is an associate publisher of GOOD, a magazine about philanthropy and aimed at young people.
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