Priestley Wraps up Alcohol Program

By Stephen M. Silverman

07/25/2001 at 01:00 PM EDT

Ex "Beverly Hills, 90210" star Jason Priestley, 31, has successfully completed an alcohol counseling program that he was ordered to attend when he pleaded no contest last year to a drunken driving charge, the actor's spokesperson has confirmed to PEOPLE.com. Priestley's attorney, Peter L. Knecht, offered proof in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday that the actor had completed the three-month program. Priestley was not present for the hearing. "That should take care of this matter," said Judge Marlene Kristovich. At a gathering of reporters outside the courtroom afterward, Knecht said, "He's done everything he's supposed to do, although it was slow. He was always clean-cut. This could happen to just about anyone." Priestly was originally booked on felony driving-under-the-influence charges, filed by the District Attorney's office in connection with a crash of his 1999 silver Porsche (into some trash cans, a utility pole and a parked car, said police) in the Hollywood Hills last December 3 at 12:30 a.m. Priestley's passenger, Chad Cook, 27, of Hollywood, received a broken arm in the crash, authorities said.