Woman in celebrity 'bling ring' case rejects plea deal

A woman accused of burglarizing the home of actor Orlando Bloom in the "bling ring" celebrity break-in case turned down a plea deal Monday that would have sentenced her to six months or a year in county jail.

Alexis Neiers is now scheduled to begin trial May 10 on a felony burglary charge that could land her in prison for six years if she is convicted.

A judge Monday rejected her request to have the statements she made to police detectives excluded from the case. Superior Court Judge Leslie A. Swain said a videotape of Neiers’ interview showed she understood she had the right to an attorney.

Swain also revealed in court that Neiers, 18, turned down a prosecutor's plea deal that called for her to receive either a year in jail, three years' probation and restitution or six months in jail with a four-year suspended sentence, three years' probation and restitution.

In each case, she would have been required to plead guilty to a felony.

Neiers’ court proceedings have become part of an E! Channel reality show called “Pretty Wild” about her family. A film crew shot her preliminary hearing.

Five other people are charged in the 2008-09 burglaries of celebrities. Victims included Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Audrina Patridge and Rachel Bilson. Neiers has insisted she was intoxicated and unaware she was involved in a break-in. She said she never took any items from Bloom's home.

-- Richard Winton

Comments

[Kurt]

Well, this young woman is going to find out the hard way.

[sheldon]

If I was the judge and the accused blamed her actions on alcohol, I would not accept that as an excuse but would give her an additional sentence for being drunk in public

[Kattie]

Olease TEACH HER A LESSON! Who does she think she is disrespecting the Law and courts today also. LAPD did a great job with eveidence and this gal needs to learn her lesson and be punished like every other crook and thief . UGHHHH

[Cosmo Kramer]

Only in America can someone go from criminal to tv screen. Are there not bigger issues/problems to solve in this world instead of watching mind-numbing tv of 3 sisters, one of which is an alleged criminal? Really?? There aren't? And now she has the stupidity to think she should be treated differently because she is a supposed "Hollywood elitist"?

Do us all a favor and teach this little runt a lesson.......send to jail for 6 years, like they would do for any "normal" criminal.

[Nils]

Great ,and she gets a TV programme etc ?! What a society we now have ...reward morons and crooks and losers . Ain't global warming thats going to get us , its the dumbing down that will !

[Sonia Martinez-Romaih]

I hope she gets put in jail. Alexis was caught stealing again when she and her "sister" Tess were hosting an event in an Atlanta nightclub. One of the employees of the nightclub complained that she was missing $200.00. Alexis and Tess were acting suspicious enough that management searched her purse and found the employee's identification and money. Charges were not pressed but it just goes to show that Alexis hasn't leartned a thing.

[Get a clue]

That would mean you can use the Demon Rum Made Me Do It excuse for a DUI.

After all, it's Not Your Fault.

[DenMother]

so first her attorney tries to defend her by claiming she was too intoxicated to understand what was happening in Orlando Bloom's home.

now her attorney tries to defend her by claiming she didn't understand her Miranda rights to be silent and have an attorney present.

I find it very hard to believe that this lawyer thinks he can present "She's a Moron" as a legal defense.

and if these people had half a functioning brain cell, they would not be having a film crew follow them into court -- or for that matter, follow them while the defendant left the country on vacation to Mexico while on bail.

What a shameful and irresponsible disgusting message that E! would send to the kids of America by glamorizing this trainwreck family.