Bruno Mars avoids conviction for cocaine possession

Soul star Bruno Mars is to avoid a conviction for cocaine possession after successfully meeting the terms of his plea deal.

Mars, 26, pleaded guilty to to the charge in a Las Vegas court last year after he was caught with 2.6 grams of the drug in a casino in September 2010.

The Billionaire singer received a probationary sentence of $2,000 fine, 200 hours of community service at a non-profit organisation and eight hours with a drug counsellor in Los Angeles.

And after successfully keeping his nose clean for the past year and diligently serving his sentence, the star looks set to walk off with a clean criminal record tomorrow.

In fact he ended up exceeding his requirement, working more than 230 hours for children’s charities and some health-related non-profit organisations.

The musician, real name Peter Hernandez, faced up to four years in state prison if he had violated the terms of the agreement.

Bruno will no doubt be relieved to be putting his drugs controversy behind him so he can concentrate on music.

At the time his Las Vegas lawyer Richard Schonfeld told the judge  his client intended to meet the requirements, and he has lived up to his word.

Mars admitted having 2.6 grams of cocaine when he was arrested in a bathroom after a nightclub performance at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in September.

He was caught after a toilet attendant informed a security guard he believed someone had been taking drugs there.

Police say the Latino hunk told the arresting officer he had never used drugs before.

Mars’ Los Angeles lawyer, Blair Berk, has said the singer appreciates the chance he received as a first-time offender to have the felony charge dismissed.