After a topsy-turvy day in court, Lindsay Lohan was found in violation of probation – and sentenced to four months in jail – on Friday, for allegedly stealing a $2,500 necklace.
The actress, who was allowed to post bail, was also sentenced to 480 hours of community service by a Los Angeles judge.
Lohan, 24, arrived at Lynwood Jail at approximately 5:30 p.m. PT in a sheriff’s vehicle – her fourth trip to the facility – where she was given an orange jumpsuit. She was released at 9:21 p.m., according to inmate records.
Earlier in the day, Lohan, 24, scored a legal victory when Judge Stephanie Sautner reduced her felony grand theft charge to a misdemeanor, explaining she was “giving [Lohan] an opportunity,” because reducing charges for nonviolent defendants is common in more serious cases than Lohan’s.
Because of the reduction, Lohan was granted $75,000 bail for the probation violation while pending appeal.
Judge Scolds Lindsay
But the judge’s goodwill didn’t come without harsh criticism from the bench.
“Would a person with any brains walk out with a necklace with [security] cameras on?” Judge Sautner asked. “Maybe it’s brazenness, stupidity – I don’t know what. Perhaps it was a desire to hide in plain sight.”
Lohan’s attorney argued the actress walked off with the necklace because of simple absentmindedness, which the judge rejected.
“I see her intent [to steal] and I see a level of brazenness,” Sautner said, adding that a reasonable person would’ve returned the necklace immediately. Lohan waited 10 days before returning it, and only after she learned of an imminent search warrant to be executed on her home, Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers alleged. “It was like, ‘Let me see what I can get away with,’ ” Sautner said.
“She thumbs her nose at the court,” the judge continued, as Lohan dabbed tears from her eyes. “She walks into court with FU on her fingernails. I don’t know what that’s all about.”
Community Service at the Morgue
Of the 480 community service hours, Lohan was ordered to perform 360 of them at the Downtown Women’s Center. “Then she will see how truly needy women have to live and that might change her,” the judge said.
As for the remaining 120 hours, those would be performed at the L.A. County morgue “to see what happens when people drink and drive,” Sautner said. Lohan must enroll in those programs within a week after her release on bail and must complete them all within one year.
Lohan’s attempt to overturn the four-month sentence is expected to be heard in an appeals court in coming days. Meanwhile, her trial for the misdemeanor theft case is set for June 3.