A Los Angeles judge told troubled actress Lindsay Lohan today that she will be sent to jail if she decides to take a plea deal in the case of the stolen necklace.
“This case does involve jail time — period,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz told Lohan. “If you plead in front of me, you are going to jail — period!”
The “Mean Girls” star and her father, Michael Lohan, arrived just before the start of a hearing in the case, which was filed after a jewelry store reported a $2,500 necklace stolen.
“I’ve never met you before. … I treat everyone the same. I don’t care you are Lindsay Lohan,” the judge told Lohan.
Lohan, 24, pleaded not guilty two weeks ago when she showed up to court wearing a tight white dress. For today’s hearing, she showed up with her dad Michael wearing white pants and a sexy, low-cut black jacket.
The necklace case has become the latest courthouse issue for Lohan, who was sent to jail and rehab twice last year for violating her probation. It could land her back behind bars if she pleads not guilty or no contest, the judge said as he laid out the various scenarios.
“There is an issue as to the amount of time, that’s why the judge has that discretion,” Schwartz said. “There is going to be jail time in this case. … I don’t want you to be a repeat offender. … I want you to move on with your life and quit causing you, your family and people around you more stress.”
The judge set a preliminary hearing March 10. Lohan has until that date to decide to whether she wants to plead guilty or no contest to the charge. If she decides not to take the deal, the details of which were not made public during the hearing, the case will be determined by another judge who will hear her probation violation case.
TMZ.com reported that prosecutors want Lohan to serve six months in jail as part of a deal.
The judge also requested that Lohan get “counseling” and “ordered to see a therapist” if she is to plead in this case.
“You need to get a reliable and trustworthy sponsor who is not a family member,” he said. “You need a good sponsor. … to help you stay away from substance abuse issues, alcohol issues and [to] help you become a very productive citizen.”
When the judge asked if she understood, Lohan replied, “Yes, your honor.”
Lohan spent three months in rehab at the Betty Ford Center and was accused by a rehab worker there of misdemeanor battery during a December argument. Prosecutors in Riverside County have not yet decided whether to pursue charges.
About three weeks after her release, Lohan was accused of taking the necklace from Kamofie & Co., a jewelry store near Lohan’s new home in Venice, Calif.
The necklace was turned over to detectives before they could serve a warrant to search Lohan’s home.
Lohan’s career has been stalled for months; she lost her part in a biopic of porn star Linda Lovelace while she was in rehab at Betty Ford.
Her lawyer Shawn Holley has denied the actress stole the necklace and said she’s passed all drug testing.
With AP