Judge Sets Preliminary Hearing Date for Lohan

The judge gives the actress another chance to consider his offer before the case heads to a preliminary hearing

Lindsay Lohan rejected a plea agreement Thursday offered by prosecutors in a grand theft case, but the judge gave the actress one more chance to consider his offer.

The “Mean Girls” star returned to a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday for a hearing in front of Judge Keith Schwartz.

The judge set a preliminary hearing for April 22, but he set another hearing for March 25. That hearing will be held only if Lohan is planning to enter into a plea agreement, the judge said.

Basically, the judge's decision Thursday gives Lohan and her attorney more time to consider the plea deal.

Lohan is accused of swiping a $2,500 necklace from a Venice jewelry store last January, shortly after she was released from 90-days in rehab. On Feb. 9, Lohan pleaded not guilty to the felony grant theft charge.

A plea deal would end the case, but Schwartz warned at a Feb. 23 hearing the deal would guarantee time behind bars.

“This issue is, what it is,” Schwartz said.

Should Lohan not accept a plea deal, Judge Schwartz has said he’ll refer the case to Judge Stephanie Sautner for a hearing on whether is enough evidence for a trial. Sautner would also call the shots on whether Lohan violated her probation stemming from her 2007 misdemeanor case.

As for the necklace, the jewelry store owners announced Wednesday they plan to auction it off for charity.

Selected Reading: TMZ, AP
 

Contact Us