Mischa BartonAs predicted, Mischa Barton has been given probation and ordered to attend an alcohol education course after pleading no contest in her DUI case.

Mischa accepted the plea deal in return for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office dropped their possession of marijuana charge (reportedly due to the small amount found) and reduced the driving without a license charge to an infraction.

Mischa didn’t attend yesterday’s hearing at a Beverly Hills courthouse but her lawyer Anthony V Salerno entered the plea and after the hearing, said the prosecutors were “very fair in handling this case”.

He added: “Ms Barton understands the seriousness of this situation and assumes full responsibility for her actions. She and I are grateful to the Court and the District Attorney’s Office for the prompt and respectful resolution of the case.”

Mischa was arrested for the DUI in West Hollywood over Christmas after she was spotted weaving between two lanes of traffic. As well as the three years of unsupervised probation and three-month education class, she has also been fined approximately $2000. Legal commentators say that such a deal is common for first-time offenders.