Walters’ Cocaine Charge Suspended as He Agrees to Undergo Counseling

A felony cocaine charge against Danny Walters, a Charger cornerback, was suspended Friday by a Municipal Court judge when the player agreed to undergo counseling in a court-approved program.

At the same time, Walters, 25, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Judge Frederic Link set sentencing for that offense for Nov. 19.

Walters, who underwent drug treatment in 1984 but says he no longer uses narcotics, was arrested Sept. 14 by police who found 1.7 grams of cocaine in his clothing. A urinalysis test administered by police at the time of the arrest indicated a presence of cocaine in the system.

But 28 hours after the police’s test, Walters passed a test administered by the Chargers. His attorney, Eugene Iredale, said Friday that police “obviously fouled up their testing because Mr. Walters does not use drugs.” Iredale said that if Walters had used cocaine, it would have shown up on the Chargers’ test.

“There’s no question that he had one too many drinks that night, we’re not contesting that,” Iredale said. “But the cocaine charge is unfounded.”

Iredale also said the cocaine found on Walters did not belong to the player, who earlier told police it belonged to a woman passenger in his car.

Nonetheless, the attorney said he advised his client to exercise his right to enter a diversion program rather than fight the drug charge during trial. If Walters completes the program, which is expected to last one year, and is not charged in any other criminal offenses, the cocaine charge will be dropped, Deputy Dist. Atty. Allan Preckel said.

After Friday’s hearing, Walters said he had “mixed emotions” about the outcome.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been outside the law and I’m not sure what to think,” he said.

Steve Ortmayer, director of football operations for the Chargers, said Friday: “I’m not sure of the whole story, or the details, but at this point Danny has done everything the league has asked him to do, and everything the Chargers have asked him to do. As far as I’m concerned, he is a member of this roster.”

Walters has been practicing with the Chargers this week.

In an interview last month, Charger owner Alex Spanos said Walters, who last season missed 14 games with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon, would remain on the team unless convicted of drug charges.

“He passed our tests,” Spanos said at the time. “That doesn’t mean we condone what he did. But . . . let’s be fair about this.”

Times staff writer Bill Plaschke contributed to this article.