US country music star Willie Nelson and his tour manager were spared a jail sentence yesterday after pleading guilty in Louisiana to possessing marijuana.

Nelson, tour manager David Anderson, Nelson’s sister, Bobbie Nelson, and two drivers were issued citations on September 18 after state troopers said they found marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms on his tour bus during a commercial vehicle inspection.

State District Judge Paul deMahy fined Nelson and Anderson $US1,024 ($A1,232) each and put both on six months probation. As part of a plea agreement, the citation against Bobbie Nelson was dismissed, The St Martinville Advocate reported.

St Martin Parish Assistant District Attorney Chester Cedars said he dismissed the citations against the two drivers because there was no indication they “had anything to do with the contraband”.

Word that Nelson was in the small southern Louisiana town quickly spread, and about 25 fans gathered outside the court to wait for the entertainer after his brief appearance. Nelson obliged, shaking hands, signing scraps of paper and posing for photographs.

“Thank y’all,” he said, waving as he climbed into a waiting car.