Actor Fred Willard has managed to avoid a lewd-conduct trial following a summer arrest at a California adult theater because he has completed a diversion program.
Willard finished the diversion program for minor sexual offenses intended to divert offenders from the criminal justice system, the Los Angeles Times reported. The program was completed in September, according to CBS News.
In July, Willard was arrested at the Tiki Theater, an adult movie theater in Hollywood, for lewd conduct. Police allegedly caught the 73-year-old actor with his "penis exposed and in his hand." However, Willard's lawyer claimed his client didn't violate any laws while inside the theater.
Just weeks after the arrest, Willard appeared on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and joked about the incident, but continued to defend his innocence.
"It's the last time I'm going to listen to my wife when she says, ‘Why don't you go out and see a movie?’” he said. "It had such a Polynesian exotic look to it. I say maybe there's hula dancers in here. Maybe there's Mai Tais. I went in and I realized I was the only one awake and sober and conscious.”
He continued, "It's very embarrassing. It's embarrassing as hell, but let me say this: Nothing happened. I did nothing wrong.”
Willard was eventually fired from his job narrating the series "Market Warriors," a program produced by Boston public television station WGBH, and a show featuring Willard was also pulled from ABC.
The "Best in Show" actor was arrested by the same LA vice unit that recently arrested actor Nick Stahl for investigation of lewd conduct on Dec. 27, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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