Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson pleaded no contest Wednesday to being drunk when he rear-ended another driver in Lake Oswego in October and was allowed by a judge to enter an alcohol diversion program.

The 26-year-old New Zealand native made no public statements while in Lake Oswego Municipal Court other than to plead no contest for driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving. He pleaded guilty for refusing to take a breath test.

An additional charge of reckless endangering was dropped as part of his plea agreement.

Judge William Bruce Shipley said the reckless driving conviction could be dismissed if Gleeson successfully completes the diversion program, which is available for first-time offenders. If he doesn't, he faces a maximum of one year in jail and a fine up to $6,250, court documents show.

Gleeson, who obtained his green card in 2012 and is a permanent U.S. resident, will have to install an interlock device on his car as one of the conditions of his sentence.

He appeared in court with his attorney, Christine Mascal, and another man who refused to identify himself. He arrived about 20 minutes before the hearing began and left after paying $1,140 in court-issued fines.

Gleeson and his attorney declined to comment after the hearing.

Gleeson was arrested Oct. 24 after a two-car crash near Pilkington Road and Willow Lane, police said. His teammate, Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell, was also arrested when police say he drove to the crash scene while also drunk after Gleeson called him for help. Both failed field sobriety tests, but refused breath tests to record their blood alcohol contents, Lake Oswego police said.

The driver who was hit wasn't injured and was able to drive away from the scene, police said.



Ridgewell, 32, is scheduled to enter a plea in Lake Oswego Municipal Court to a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants on Dec. 7. Ridgewell is originally from England and lives in Lake Oswego.



Gleeson and Ridgewell apologized to fans, their families, the Timbers organization and Major League Soccer in statements after the crash. MLS said both men would be assessed by the league's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey