Joey Porter's cousin pleaded guilty yesterday to having marijuana on him when police searched a car he borrowed from the Steelers linebacker.

On Oct. 4, 2005, Merial Gene Reid III, 28, whose home address at the time was in Bakersfield, Calif., consented to a police search of a 2004 GMC Yukon Denai that his cousin had loaned to him. Officers found a small amount of marijuana in Mr. Reid's pocket

Federal agents later searched a home in the 200 block of Carver Street in Larimer, where they found several pounds of marijuana.

Mr. Reid pleaded guilty to two possession counts before Allegheny County Judge David R. Cashman. The district attorney dropped a conspiracy charge.

Judge Cashman sentenced Mr. Reid to five years' probation and ordered regular drug screening.

The district attorney dropped charges against two other defendants in the case.