LA says Fred Willard could avoid trial

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LOS ANGELES, July 21 (UPI) -- Los Angeles prosecutors said actor Fred Willard has the option of pretrial counseling to avoid trial after his arrest on suspicion of lewd conduct.

Willard, 72, was arrested by the LAPD vice squad at the Tiki Theater in Hollywood this week but could avoid prosecution if he goes through a "pre-filing diversion" program within a year, a spokesman for the city attorney's office said.

The Los Angeles Times said the program costs $380; however, Willard will also be out the money he was supposed to make on PBS' "Market Warriors" series. The veteran film and television character actor was let go following his arrest.

Willard's lawyer previously said the charges against his client were a big misunderstanding and vowed to straighten the whole thing out, the Times said.