Honolulu lawyer Brook Hart and lawyers from Houston’s home state of New Jersey appeared on her behalf at a court hearing Thursday in Kona. Houston was not present.

The petty misdemeanor charge stemmed from a January 11 incident at Keahole-Kona International Airport on Hawaii Island. Houston’s handbag was seized by a security guard, and police reported it contained half an ounce (14 grams) of marijuana.

Houston and her husband, Bobby Brown, boarded a flight to San Francisco before police arrived. The singer faced a possible penalty of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Judge Joseph Florendo agreed to delay acceptance of a no-contest plea on the singer’s behalf until three months from now under a process allowed by state law, Hart said.

If Houston meets certain undisclosed conditions during that time, the case will be erased from her record, Hart said.

In general, to have a case dismissed under this process, a defendant must stay out of legal trouble and abide by other restrictions similar to probation.