Bruno Mars clear of cocaine possession case

(CBS/AP) Bruno Mars was cleared of a felony cocaine possession case in Las Vegas on Wednesday, after his attorneys told a state court judge that the pop star has stayed out of trouble, performed community service and met other conditions of a plea deal reached almost a year ago.

Mars, whose real name is Peter Gene Hernandez, didn't appear in person for the brief hearing at which a judge dismissed the case.

The 26-year-old Mars pleaded guilty Feb. 16 to cocaine possession, but the judge postponed accepting the plea.

Mars didn't get formal probation, but the judge fined him $2,000 and ordered him to perform 200 hours of community service and to get eight hours of drug counseling.

The singer-songwriter acknowledged having 2.6 grams of cocaine when he was arrested in a bathroom in September 2010 after a nightclub performance at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

He could have faced up to four years in state prison, but attorney Blair Berk said Mars met the court requirements and logged more than the required 200 hours of community service.

"Bruno earned the dismissal," the lawyer told reporters after the hearing. "He exceeded the expectations of the court."

Mars won best male pop vocal performer at the Grammys last year, and is nominated for six awards this year. He is to perform at the upcoming awards ceremony, broadcast live Feb. 12 on CBS.