Gore's Son Pleads Guilty To Pot Possession

Former Vice President Al Gore's son pleaded guilty Monday to possessing marijuana and other drugs, but a judge said the plea can be withdrawn if he successfully completes an intense drug diversion program in 18 months.

Al Gore III, 24, entered the plea at his arraignment.

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.

Authorities have said drugs were discovered in Gore's car after he was pulled over for speeding earlier this month.

Gore pleaded guilty 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.

The son of the former 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 aimed at young people.