Bruno Mars Cleared of Cocaine Charges

A Las Vegas judge on Wednesday dismissed the cocaine possession case against pop star Bruno Mars after he successfully completed court-ordered drug education classes and community service, even exceeding the amount of hours he was told to serve.

Clark County District Court Judge Jessie Walsh cleared Bruno of the charge, said Mary Ann Price, court information officer for the 8th Judicial District Court.

Mars, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, was arrested in September 2010 after a bathroom attendant at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel caught him with “a baggy of white powder,” later found to be cocaine, according to a police report at the time.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing cocaine and received a $2,000 fine, 200 hours of community service, drug counseling and was told to stay out of trouble during a year of informal probation. Bruno performed all the requirements and exceeded the 200 hours of service, his attorney told Reuters.

Judge Walsh took over Mars’ case after County Clark Deputy District Attorney David Schubert, who prosecuted Mars in early 2011, was arrested for buying cocaine himself a few months later.

Buju Banton Arrested On Drug Charges

Grammy-nominated reggae star Buju Banton has been arrested on drug charges. The Jamaican dancehall singer, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, was held in Florida on Thursday on a charge of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, more than 11 pounds of cocaine.

The star is currently being detained in a Miami, Florida prison, and if convicted could face up to 20 years behind bars.

The arrest comes just weeks after Banton received his first Grammy Award nomination for his album Rasta Got Soul. The singer has previously courted controversy with his violently homophobic lyrics, which have long infuriated gay rights groups.