LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lindsay Lohan is scheduled to be arraigned on misdemeanor charges that could result in her returning to jail, but the star is not required to attend Wednesday’s proceedings.
The actress faces three counts of reckless driving, lying to a police officer and obstructing an officer from performing duties after an accident in which Lohan’s Porsche slammed into the back of a dump truck in June. Authorities in Santa Monica, Calif., allege Lohan lied about being behind-the-wheel before the accident and the charges could prompt a probation violation in her 2011 necklace theft case.
Los Angeles city prosecutors announced Tuesday they have asked a judge to revoke Lohan’s probation in the necklace case, which could result in her being sentenced to 245 days in jail after the Santa Monica case is resolved.
Wednesday’s hearing will likely lay out the next court dates and whether the “Liz and Dick” star will have to make one of her closely-watched court appearances for a probation violation hearing.
Lohan’s attorney Shawn Holley did not return phone or email messages seeking comment on Tuesday. California defendants facing misdemeanors can avoid appearing in court if they are represented by an attorney, unless a judge orders otherwise.
Lohan, 26, was on her way to the set of the Lifetime biopic “Liz and Dick” on Pacific Coast Highway before the June accident, which sent her to the hospital briefly. She returned to the set later in the day, but police determined she had lied about her assistant driving her Porsche at the time.
After being removed from supervised probation in March, Lohan attempted to mount a comeback, filming two movies and a cameo with Charlie Sheen in the latest installment of the “Scary Movie” franchise.
Her performance in the first film released, “Liz and Dick,” wasn’t greeted favorably by fans or critics.
The new case could prompt a judge to sentence Lohan to jail for violating her probation for taking a $2,500 necklace from a store without permission in 2011. The jewelry was later returned, but it sparked months of court hearings and morgue cleanup duty for the star, who has struggled personally and professionally since being arrested twice in 2007 for driving under the influence.
Lohan was ordered to remain out of trouble and a judge urged her to stop partying at nightclubs, but neither has happened.
She also faces a misdemeanor assault charge in New York after a woman claimed she was hit by Lohan in a Manhattan nightclub. It is unknown whether New York prosecutors will pursue charges, or drop them as they did earlier this year when Lohan was accused of hitting a man with her car.
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Anthony McCartney can be reached at https://twitter.com/mccartneyAP
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