Gary Dourdan was in an Indo, California court today where he plead guilty to possession of cocaine and ecstasy. Even though he was also charged with heroin possession, that charge was dropped.

Dourdan had denied he was guilty in an email to Access Hollywood earlier this month, but the police had hard evidence, so apparently he got smart and made a plea deal.

Dourdan’s lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, said outside the Lawson Justice Center:

"As a result of today’s proceedings, Gary has been given diversion (a drug treatment program). He very much regrets what happened, and he’s very embarrassed by what occurred, but he’s looking forward to moving on and getting back to work."

Work where? He left CSI.

Holley added:

"He is very grateful to the court for being understanding and giving him an opportunity to resolve the issue and move forward."

Dourdan had faced up to three years and eight months based on the charges filed against him. Instead, he faces no prison time, but must complete the 16-class drug program.

He couldn’t lie his way out of this one, but he tried.

On April 28 Gary Dourdan was arrested for drug possession. He claimed in an email his drug tests for that night came back negative. Police today charged Dourdan with three felonies for possession of a controlled substance, one charge each for heroin, cocaine and ecstasy. It looks like he’ll have to prove his innocence in court.

Dawn Wells was arrested for marijuana possession in March, but she claimed it was not hers, but rather a hitch hiker’s she gave a ride to. The guy turned himself in and confessed. Dourdan made the same claim, but he won’t be so lucky. A negative drug test doesn’t have anything to do with possession. Without someone else admitting those drugs were no Dourdan’s he could be going to jail.

Gary Dourdan, who was arrested Monday morning in Palm Springs for drug possession, after being found asleep in his car, allegedly in the driver’s seat, and parked on the wrong side of the road, sent an email to Access Hollywood regarding his arrest:

“Obviously I certainly wish I hadn’t been responsible for so many people getting to the festival’s VIP area,” Dourdan wrote in an e-mail to Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson, referring to California’s annual Coachella festival, which he regularly attends. “And the after party, it ran me ragged, but I’m glad pulling over did prevent a DUI. I recommend not driving at all, but a little kip (nap) is always good (on either side of the road LOL).”

When officer’s searched Dourdan’s vehicle they found “suspected cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, miscellaneous prescription drugs and paraphernalia.” In his e-mail, Dourdan says the drugs were not his.

“I am blessed that the Sgt. realized that the luggage carrying whatever they found was not mine and that my tests have been coming back negative,” Dourdan’s e-mail continued. “I’ve been happy to cooperate in any way to clear myself and go on with my blessed life.”

Dourdan also apologized to his fans like Taylor Switft who he was to present an award to at Hollywood Life Magazine’s 10th Annual Young Hollywood Awards, last Sunday:

“I am so sorry to all my fans, especially the young ones, like Taylor Swift, who I should’ve been supporting with my daughter instead of driving tired in the desert,” he wrote. “I am planning events to get the word out that you don’t need a bunch of nasty chemicals to have a good time. Just good friends, family, good music and a good honest spirit full of faith.”

Dourdan deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt. If he says the drugs were not his, and his drug test came back negative, there’s no reason not to believe him. He was intoxicated though, probably on alcohol which is legal, which he indicates is the reason he pulled over to sleep it off. Very responsible. Dourdan would be more believable however, if the person who did own the drugs turned themselves in to save him.

Dawn Wells, aka Mary Ann from Gilligans Island, was pulled over and arrested for marijuana possession in March, but the man who she gave a ride to confessed it was his pot, so Wells was set free. Up until then everyone thought she was guilty.

Sometimes things aren’t as they seem, and we really need to keep an open mind, especially when we’re talking about criminal charges.

Gary Dourdan’s CSI co-stars said his arrest for alleged heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy possession while sleeping in his car was NO SURPRISE to any of them. The production team tells the Chicago Sun-Times:

"We have been worried about Gary for some time. It’s just a shame that he wasn’t able to get the help he needs before this happened."

The night of Dourdan’s arrest, CSI broadcast an episode showing his character taking prescription drugs.

Real life is stranger than fiction.

Gary Dourdan was arrested in Palm Springs yesterday on suspicion of possessing heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and prescription drugs. Law enforcement said the actor was asleep in his car at 5:21 AM when they approached the vehicle and made the bust. Dourdan was taken to Palm Springs jail where he posted $5,000 bail, and was released.

Dourdan only recently left the show CSI, saying he and producers mutually ended his contract. Did his drug use have anything to do with that decision? Looks like it might have.

Dourdan’s out of control behavior with the paparazzi appears to have been fueled by drugs now.

If you see Dourdan on the street, run in the other direction.

Below is side by side comparison with a guy named Demitris Hirsch who was arrested in Lafayette, La., back in November. This is what Dourdan will look like in only a few more years of using drugs.