Paul Dean, the 17-year-old son of Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, will take part in a court diversion program for his role in the burglary of a Vermont country club.

According to the Associated Press, police have pegged Dean as the getaway driver, having questioned the teen while he sat in a car waiting for four buddies to steal beer and champagne from the Burlington Country Club on June 20.

Howard Dean

"I think this is a good outcome for Paul and for his friends, and that's what the program is designed for," Howard Dean told reporters after meeting with an official at a Vermont District Court, along with his son and wife, Dr. Judith Dean.

None of the five teen-agers will actually appear before a judge, a typical scenario for young people who have no criminal record, Paul Dean's attorney told AP.

In a few weeks, reports the news service, Paul Dean will appear before a community board that will determine his punishment. It could include community service, making restitution or writing an apology letter. Ironically, the court diversion program began while Paul's father was governor of Vermont, reports WCAX-TV.

The boys' records will be cleared within two years if they comply with the requirements of the board.

If the teens had been formally charged, the crimes potentially could have carried a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a $1,000 fine.

The beer bust took place just days before the presidential candidate kicked off his campaign for the White House. At the time, Dean said his son would "have to pay the price" for his crime, reports the Barre Montpelier Times Argus.

When asked today how the incident might affect his campaign, Dean declined to answer.

"I don't want to mix things," he told reporters. "We're not going to be talking about politics and family business at the same press conference."