Lakers owner disputes drunk driving charges

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence.

Photo: Lakers owner disputes drunk driving charges

Buss, 74, was stopped on May 29 after he was seen driving his car on the wrong side of the road in an unincorporated section of Carlsbad, according to the California Highway Patrol.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the district attorney's office, Buss was under the influence of an unspecified drug but refused to take a chemical test. He was arrested after failing a field sobriety test.

Buss was charged with one count each of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent or greater.

Buss, who was not required to be in court, entered his plea through attorney David Manning Chodos. Chodos declined to comment after the hearing.