Plea Deal for Cooper Accepted

Laker assistant coach Michael Cooper has pleaded guilty to battery against his wife and received a deferred sentence while he continues counseling, a clerk in Corrales, N.M., Municipal Court said.

Cooper, who attended the University of New Mexico and has a home in suburban Albuquerque, was arrested July 27 and charged with assault and battery, both misdemeanors. Under an agreement, he pleaded to the battery charge and the assault charge was dismissed.

Court clerk Margaret Lumpmouth said the plea agreement with the Corrales prosecutor calls for Cooper to go six months without any violent incidents and requires continued attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Albuquerque and Los Angeles.