Lindsay Lohan to be charged with grand theft in necklace case [Updated]

L.A. County prosecutors said they plan to file charges Wednesday against Lindsay Lohan for allegedly stealing a $2,500 necklace from a Venice jewelry store.

The felony grand theft charge will be the most serious faced by the actress, who over the last two years has made headlines for court appearances and stints in rehab.

[Updated at 2:40 p.m.: Lohan will be arraigned Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Airport Court. Barring any changes, it appears that Lohan will not be arrested Tuesday, but will be booked at the courthouse on Wednesday and arraigned on the charge, according to sources familiar with the case.]

Lohan currently is on probation and faces a criminal investigation in Riverside County involving allegations that she shoved a worker at the Betty Ford Center.

Lohan did not immediately comment on the latest charge, but her attorney released a statement over the weekend that the actress would fight any criminal charges.

"We vehemently deny these allegations," the statement said.

If charges are filed, "We will fight them in court, not in the press."

Last week, Los Angeles police detectives presented the results of their investigation into the alleged theft to prosecutors. Detectives investigated whether Lohan stole a "one-of-a-kind" necklace that went missing last month from a Venice jewelry store not far from where she lives.

The piece, described as a gold necklace with semiprecious stones, disappeared Jan. 22 from the store in the 1300 block of Abbot Kinney Boulevard, and police began investigating a few days later. According to law enforcement sources, Lohan was seen in a store security video wearing the necklace before it was reported missing.

After detectives began looking into the case and preparing a search warrant, a Lohan associate took the necklace to the Pacific Division police station, sources said. Lohan could face grand theft and second-degree commercial burglary charges if evidence supports that the necklace was stolen, prosecutors said.

In the Riverside County case, Lohan is under investigation for allegedly assaulting an employee at the Betty Ford Center.

Lohan spent three months at the center in Rancho Mirage under orders from Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Elden S. Fox, who spared the actress jail time in October after Lohan tested positive for drugs while on probation in a DUI case.

The judge directed her to stay at the center through January and warned that he would put her in jail for six months if she violated probation again. It was her fifth time in rehab, and she has been to jail three times in connection with the case.

The employee accused Lohan of shoving her but then told investigators she did not want to press charges.

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-- Andrew Blankstein

Photos: (Top) The Kamofie & Company jewelry store window in Venice. Credit: Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press. (Bottom) Lindsay Lohan appears in a Beverly Hills courtroom in July 2010. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[sally twoshoes]

first! shes in real trouble now...her parents really need to step in now

[Bob]

I volunteer for her first conjugal visit.

[Jujubeans]

Looks like hard time now. Look out for the inmate with the broom handle.

[Lindsey Hohand]

Why even bother charging her...nothings going to happen. Sure wish we all could get treatment like this.

[Robert NO longer in LA]

Isn't is GRAND, when we have a deficit so GREAT, that all these priceless resources (cops, DA, Courts) can be squandered on providing Lohan with amusement?

[Lolo]

She carjacked 3 people, took them and the car hostage, ran over a photogs foot, not to mention all the drugs she's been busted with, and now a stolen necklace. HOW IS SHE NOT IN JAIL RIGHT NOW????

[Thomas]

She should be taken into custody immediately and her probation revoked, as this latest charge is no doubt a violation of her probation.

At least that's how it would work if you or I were in the same situation.

[Champ Clark]

I Pity The Fool

[PadrePete]

"Lohan will be arraigned Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Airport Court."
Hey Lindsay..., don't forget to dress nice and have that 'special' nail job done for THIS arrainment... "wink, wink".

[Big Game Hunter 3056]

Gees, what a mess, she needs to get a grip of herself. The problem is this, Lindsy is on Probation!! What does that mean? She will possibly get a lengthier jail sentence if convicted. Then again, Lee Baca will work something out and let her out early.

[michael]

The drug charges are a bit stupid, and her rehab didn't really work, but now I think it's time to throw this idiot in jail and let her get the sentence that any normal or poor person would get. She either thinks that she's better and can get away with this stuff or she's just plain stupid...and I think it's the later.

[Jakens]

really???? You haven't learned from all your other mistakes. Can't feel bad for someone who doesn't want to get better.

[Michael]

You can't even fell sorry for her anymore!

[mesapower2003]

Why waste more time in the court system that will never do anything to her, shes becoming a bigger joke everytime she does something but the court system is the bigger joke never putting it to her so she will learn something.

[Rollie B]

they will aggressively fight these charges? how? let's see the paperwork that shows it was lent to her and she did not steal it? there is no justice in America anymore especially if you're a coked out attention whore. She and her Lawyer will do what they always do, Blame others for her mistakes.

[LDT1966]

The nurse violated patient confidentiality ... As far as the necklace goes Lindsay will claim it's part of her addiction issue .

[justasking]

just asking: why do crime stories like this always leave out the most interesting proper nouns ... like, the name of the store? it seems a very basic part of the story. where did she steal it from?

[Wolk Htennek]

What do you expect? Another one of the Hollywood Bimbo Brats being normal. This is a non-story.

[commonman13]

With this kind of talent, she should be working either in Wall Street in firms like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan,etc... or become a mayor of a city or town where she could steal in millions with paid benefits.

[KR]

Good; the rest of us can't get away with wearing a necklace outside of the store and saying we only meant to borrow it. Come on.

[tyb stuck in cali]

RE:Lohan- I just hope that the DA's office will be billed for the waste of taxpayer $$ this case will end up costing! The necklace is NOT missing-the store has it,also just because you have a picture of her with the necklace does not mean she left with it. Most likely one of her people were lent the necklace, and didn't return it quickly/or push it to a magazine,etc. When will the DA's office look into some REAL CRIMES??????

[mipak]

Amazing all these stupid actors stealing stuff, doing drugs, wasting their lives away. I hope they put here away for 10 years as I'm tired of reading about LL in the news.

[Plum Genius]

Lindsay Lindsay Lindsay...how cute is this necklace girl. Honestly.

[Blue Circle]

My prayers are with her.

[PGelsman]

Well hopefully with this arrest she'll be spending some real time in prison. An arrest is also a violation of parole. She should now go back to jail and rest up for her prison stint. Now is she could just take that other worthless creature with her, Paris Hilton.