Lindsay Lohan: Time running out to accept plea deal in necklace theft case

Time is running out for actress Lindsay Lohan to decide whether she will accept a plea deal in her necklace theft case or go to court.

Lohan is supposed to tell a judge by Friday whether she will take a deal. Sources have told The Times that she is mulling an offer that would have her spend no more than 90 days in jail if she pleaded guilty to grand theft.

Despite the offer last week by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz to Lohan's lawyer, the actress has so far refused to consider any time in jail and has insisted she never took anything intentionally, the sources said. If need be, she will go to trial, according to the sources.

Schwartz told the "Mean Girls" actress she could either show up on that date and accept a plea deal that would include some jail time or not appear at all and the case would be set for a hearing before Judge Stephanie Sautner. The hearing would determine whether there was sufficient evidence to try the case.

Schwartz warned Lohan that Sautner would hear the jewelry theft case while also considering whether the conduct amounted to a violation of Lohan's probation on a 2007 misdemeanor drunk-driving conviction.

Sautner could jail Lohan on the probation violation if she finds the actress in violation even before a trial on the Jan. 22 alleged necklace theft.

Schwartz previously warned Lohan that any settlement would result in her going to jail. He also said she would need to enter court-supervised therapy and have a 12-step program sponsor independent of her family and friends.

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-- Richard Winton

Photo: Photographers and reporters swarm Lindsay Lohan as she arrives for a hearing on felony grand theft charges at the L.A. Airport Courthouse on Feb. 9. Credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Tsiu Marpo]

Does anyone understand why the judge made this statement from the stand? It's clear, from the video, that the necklace was loaned to Lohan and it's clear from the sale of the video (by the jewelry store) that they profited off evidence which is quite bizarre. I suppose Schwartz simply wants to help his pals at the DA's Office. Seems so very Lost Angeles. Lohan helps these thugs stay on television. This situation has cost the taxpayers countless dollars. It is now so confused and convaluated so as to be an unrecognizable legal entanglement. The only thing that is clear at this point in time is that law enforcement and the judicial system/District Attorney's office understands that celebrities advance their careers and bring public renown. Why did the DA's office withhold the video from the defense for so long? Did they see what others appear to have seen - that it's a very very small shop; the employee gave Lohan the necklace; and you would have to be in a brain coma to believe that the employee (in a small store with a huge celebrity present) wasn't aware of everything - including the fact that Lohan left with the necklace. This case is evidence that these thugs will squander every penny they have belonging to the taxpayers and have utter disregard for reality. Schwartz should resign since he just testified from the bench that Lohan is, in his mind, guilty - thereby ultimately tampering with the minds of future jurors. I suppose that was the point. His lecturing Lohan over leaks (when the store sold the video) was psychotic leading me to wonder if the man has psychiatric issues or a drug problem.

"Schwartz previously warned Lohan that any settlement would result in her going to jail. "