Lindsay Lohan Declines Plea Deal; Judge Warns 'This Case Involves Jail Time'

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 23rd 2011 12:40PM

Lindsay Lohan put off her problems for another couple of weeks on Wednesday and declined to take a plea deal that Judge Keith L. Schwartz promised would include jail time, setting up another hearing on March 10 that will again address charges she stole a necklace and violated probation.

"I don't care that you're Lindsay Lohan vs. Jane Doe. It doesn't affect me," Judge Schwartz said in the Los Angeles courtroom with Lohan, wearing white pants and a low-cut shirt, looking on. "This case does involve jail time. Period. If you plead in front of me, you are going to jail."

But Lohan and her attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, opted to push the case to another hearing set for March 10 rather than take a deal yet. The judge said that the next time she faces him she'll need to decide whether to settle or not.

He said he wasn't holding his breath for a quick resolution, though.

"I get the impression you are not going to accept the DA's offer," Judge Schwartz said. "That's the feeling I got. If you settle this case, you will be treated exactly the same as anyone else."

Prosecutor Danette Meyers reportedly presented Lohan's legal team with a plea bargain that included significant jail time for her probation violation. The deal also reportedly offers three years felony probation for the grand theft charge.

As he did during the last hearing, Judge Schwartz took a few minutes to publicly scold the actress and offer his advice for what Lohan should do. He suggested that she have additional psychological screenings and therapy. He also said she needs a 12-step sponsor that is not a member of her family.

"You need a good sponsor who will assist you to help you stay away from substance abuse issues, alcohol issues," he said.

► WATCH VIDEO: Footage From Inside Court, Via RadarOnline.com

The star's mother and father were in court to offer their support. A RadarOnline reporter spotted Lohan giving her father, Michael, a kiss goodbye. After the hearing, Michael Lohan addressed the media in a long and scathing exchange with reporters. He accused the jewelry store of tricking Lohan into taking the necklace in order to promote the store. He alleged that when they felt they had not received enough promotion, they sought police action.

He also singled out his ex-wife, Dina, as not doing enough to help create a positive environment for Lindsay's recovery.

The next hearing has been set for March 10 at 8:30 AM.

If she does not plead guilty or no contest to the felony charge at that time, the case would then transfer to Judge Stephanie Sautner of the Airport Courthouse, who would be tasked with holding the preliminary hearing in the grand theft case as well as consider the star's probation violation.

Lohan was officially charged during a hearing on Feb. 9. After pleading not guilty, Judge Schwartz lanced into the actress for not taking the charges seriously. "If you violate the law again, I will remand you with no bail," he told her. "Things will be different."

If this goes to trial and she is convicted, Lohan could be sent to a California state prison with a maximum sentence of three years behind bars.

The actress, who remains on probation in a 2007 drunken driving case, is accused of taking a necklace from Kamofie & Co. of Venice Beach, Calif., on Jan. 22, roughly three weeks after the actress was released from three months of court-ordered rehab at the Betty Ford Center.

A police report was filed the day of the incident, and authorities reportedly waited until she was photographed wearing the necklace until deciding to pursue charges. A friend of the actress turned the necklace in to the Pacific Division of the LAPD on Feb. 2.

Lohan's lawyer, Holley, has denied the charges, and the actress apparently claimed that the necklace was loaned to her -- and that, unbeknownst to LiLo, her stylist simply forgot to return it in time. The star's dad, Michael Lohan, told PopEater at the time that the entire incident was as a "ridiculous" misunderstanding.

Meanwhile, rumors of Lohan's recent late-night partying probably haven't helped her case, and the actress took to Twitter to try to clear her name.

According to PEOPLE, Lohan was spotted leaving Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel last week with Samantha Ronson.

"I was just at roosevelt to meet Samantha and say happy birthday to a friend," Lohan tweeted. "i take my sobriety seriously. please dont believe this accusations. i know the rules and i wouldnt risk probation."

On Saturday night she was out late again, catching a show by Ferras at Hollywood's Hotel Cafe.

"Went to see my friend @ohferras perform and was talking to a future costar -- just to be bombarded by paparazzi," she wrote. "So much for being normal -- im now winded and headed home."

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=808824&pid=808823&uts=1297290314

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Lindsay In Familiar Settings

Lindsay Lohan was officially charged Wednesday with felony grand theft of a $2,500 necklace from a Venice Beach jewelry store. The 'Mean Girls' star arrived in court for her arraignment in a skin-tight white dress and black sunglasses.

AFP/Getty Images

AFP

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

(FILES) Dated July 20, 2010 filed photo shows Lindsay Lohan arrives to begin her 90 day jail sentence at the Beverly Hills Courthouse, California. Troubled Hollywood starlet Lindsay Lohan has failed a drugs test and could face being thrown back behind bars for breaching her bail terms, reports said September 17, 2010. The star, who was released from rehab last month after serving just three weeks of a six-month jail sentence over a drunk-driving case, failed the test for cocaine last week, said People magazine and the TMZ celebrity news agency. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

FILE - In this July 20, 2010 file photo, Lindsay Lohan listens during a court hearing in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/ Los Angeles Times, Al Seib, pool)

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

Lindsay Lohan is seen shopping on Robertson Blvd. on September 15, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - September, 15 2010 Los Angeles, CA United States September 15, 2010 Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com To license this image (61684119), contact WireImage.com

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

Lindsay Lohan tried on a couple different hats, but left her bra at home. The star was dressed in black, on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 X17online.com exclusive

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

Lindsay Lohan tried on a couple different hats, but left her bra at home. The star was dressed in black, on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 X17online.com exclusive

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

Lindsay Lohan tried on a couple different hats, but left her bra at home. The star was dressed in black, on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 X17online.com exclusive

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

Lindsay Lohan tried on a couple different hats, but left her bra at home. The star was dressed in black, on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 X17online.com exclusive

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

Tags: lindsay lohan

Comments

(347)

Wednesday 23 February

By Frankie L.I.N.Y.

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

linsay lohan needs a wake up call she needs jail time 1 or 2 yr term she needs this to straight the hell out , no more probqation and no more slap on the hand this girl needs this in a big way.

By Roz

I agree--throw her in jail. Just because she "thinks" she is still a star, she needs to be taught a good lesson. Good for the judge who will do this.

By Jim

Yaaawn............she's heard this quite a few times before...who goes to court knowing that they may end up in prison, wearing a tight fitted skirt to show all the future cell mates the goods...

By Wayne

The fact that the judge told her he is treating her the same as every other person is in itself special treatment. Can you see the judge tell anyone else the same thing, I can't. The judge may beleive he is treating her the same, but he is giving her special treatment. How many lectures did he give the poor down and out people, I bet it is none. He has already told her she is special by telling her she is not special. It's a shame.

By Brenda

Anyone else would have been in jail already. Because she is a celebrity she's getting special treatment. Nice example they are showing the everyday people. She has serious problems and she needs help before it is too late.

Thursday 24 February

By Mr. Hmmm

Vote down Vote up Report this

if only our courts went after the real criminals with the same fervor! Like the Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield...you know...the real crooks...sigh...

By landon

We hope this does take place and the same for Charlie Sheen and any others like them whether famos or not....

By gene6500

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

HE TREATS EVERYONE THE SAME? WHAT A JOKE HE WAS PLAYING TO THE CAMERAS- IF SHE WAS A REGULAR PERSON WOULD HE TALK ABOUT THE PUBLICITY WOULD HE REPEAT HIMSELF 5 TIMES
ANOTHER JUDGE IDO IF YOU ASK ME
THIS IS BS THE JAIL WARDENS DONT WANT TO WASTER THEIR TIME WITH LYNSEYS THERES NO ROOM FOR THE REAL CRIMINALS

By Gale

There goes Mummy and Daddy again, blaming everyone else for Lindsays problems but Lindsay. They need to just shut up and let her handle her own problems for a change. She is to blame, she is an adult, let her handle it. I hope she gets jail time this time. Maybe she will actually learn something. The slap on the wrists apparently didn't do it.

By clg

Sounds like Daddy was no help teaching her to be responsible!

By smartmolly

She doesn't want to go to jail, but doesn't want to watch her behavior either. Right now, she has no job offers, nothing booked, and she is prety much uninsurable, unreliable, unable to keep up with chedules, so maybe jail will give her a chance to write more songs, scripts, etc. and turn her life around. She needs honest support, not that from her parents who are only interested in her money.

By MIKE

WHAT MONEY? SHE IS BROKE!!!!!!! DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike,
Do your research. Broke to her is like your father's bank account when he thought he was doing well and could take care of the family with dignity.

By Rob

Smartmolly: Lindsay is living on a line of credit and that 1 million she got for her post jail interview plus the money she gets here and there for photos and cover shoots is far less than what she spends on her lavish apartment, her clothes, supporting her mother and sister's lavish lifestyle. If she goes to jail for 180 days or more it is guaranteed the gravy is gone and her legal bill with this attorney is pretty high as well.

By Dan

She takes her sobriety seriously, sure, right up until happy hour!!!

By robert sterling

Send her to Iran to spend about a year in jail there like that other stupid Hippie girl did, Actually Iran should have kept that girl also, she was just after a story to sell. Hiking was a poor excuse, her other two liberal Berkley friends should spend about ten years at hard labor.

By junior

And California wonders why they are broke. Anyone that is not famous would have been sentenced already and yet the joke of a justice system allows this spoiled brat to string the taxpayers dollars to the brink.

By jrgilb0729

The whole family is one pathetic train wreck. Throw all of them in jail.

By mike

HER ACTIONS HAVE CAUGHT UP WITH HER... SHE IS GOING TO JAIL, MAYBE PRISON. THERE IS NO WAY OUT OF THIS ONE! A ROTTEN MOVIE STAR KID WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS UNTOUCHABLE!!! ITS OVER!!!!!!!!!!

By badass

does her dad ever take any of the blame for Lohan's problems?

Page 4 of 18