SANTA MONICA. Calif. -- Griffin O'Neal, the son of actor Ryan O'Neal, was sentenced Thursday to one year in a drug and alcohol treatment program for his no-contest plea to shooting at his ex- girlfriend's empty car.
O'Neal, 27, was accused of terrorizing his former girlfriend after their breakup in August.
The actor pleaded no-contest Nov. 19 to one felony count of shooting into an unoccupied car.
Deputy District Attorney Lauren Weis said before the plea agreement, O'Neal also was charged with one count each of making terrorist threats, a felony, and misdemeanor battery. If he had gone to trial and been convicted of all charges, he could have been sent to prison for up to three years, eight months.
Weis said she was satisified with the sentence because, 'this way he won't be a danger to himself or to society.'
In addition to the treatment program sentence, Superior Court Judge James Albracht also placed O'Neal on five years probation.
The prosecutor said O'Neal will be confined to the private treatment center during the first six months of his term. He also will be tested randomly twice a week for drugs. Weis would not elaborate on O'Neal's drug or alcohol use or its possible connection to the incident.
On Aug. 30, O'Neal fired a shot into Lynn Marie Oddo's car while it was parked at a friend's house in Santa Monica. Oddo, 24, had gone there to avoid O'Neal.
