After pleading no contest to felony drug charges that involved the possession and sale of illegal substances, Emmanuel Lewis will be on probation and be admitted to a drug recovery program instead of facing prison time.

Lewis will enter a local Salvation Army drug recovery program for up to six months instead of facing up to a maximum of five years and eight months in prison.

On April 13, Fresno Superior Court judge James Oppliger addressed Lewis and outlined exactly what the plea agreement meant for his case. Oppliger, filling in for Judge Jonathan B. Conklin, also stressed that the final approval of Lewis’ probation details would be up to Conklin, who was unavailable that day.

If Lewis does not follow the terms of the probation, Oppliger said to Lewis, “all deals are off and the court should sentence you to whatever the court felt was just and proper punishment, including state prison.”

Noel Pebet, a deputy district attorney and the case’s prosecutor, said:

“I’d like to see him take advantage of the opportunity.”

Pebet also said that Lewis is planning to go to college in Alabama and play football. His drug treatment would be continued there.

Lewis and his attorney declined to comment.

Lewis was the Rams’ quarterback for the 2008 and 2009 football seasons.

Police arrested Lewis on Dec. 10, 2009. During a four-month investigation, Clovis police said Lewis sold close to an ounce of cocaine and 25 ecstasy pills to undercover narcotics officers.

His next court appearance is June 1.