NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Former Seton Hall basketball coach Bobby Gonzalez can avoid a criminal record stemming from his arrest on a shoplifting charge.

Gonzalez was admitted into pretrial intervention on Friday. The charge would be dismissed if Gonzalez successfully completes community service and pays restitution over the next year.

The former coach was accused of shoplifting a $1,400 satchel from a Polo Ralph Lauren store at The Mall at Short Hills in July.

Authorities said Gonzalez had removed the bag’s security sensor device.

Gonzalez says he’s happy with the way the case was resolved.

Gonzalez was fired in March after Seton Hall lost in the opening round of the NIT. He sued the school over his dismissal and reached a settlement in August.

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