No court date has been set for Lohan to enter the plea. She is scheduled to return to a Los Angeles court for a pretrial hearing May 11, but the actress is hoping to resolve the case before then, the source said. By pleading no contest, Lohan would not be admitting guilt, and it was not immediately clear if she would face any additional penalties.
The actress already has been sentenced to four months in jail for a probation violation related to the theft case. She is free on bail. Prosecutors in February charged Lohan with felony grand theft on allegations that she took the necklace from Kamofie & Co., a jewelry store near the actress's home in Los Angeles' Venice neighborhood. The charge was reduced last week by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner. Authorities allege the theft occurred roughly three weeks after Lohan, 24, was released from court-ordered rehab at the Betty Ford Center.
Lohan's assistant turned the necklace in to authorities after police obtained a search warrant to retrieve it from Lohan's house, but before detectives were able to conduct the search. Sautner said during an April 22 hearing that she thought Lohan's actions were brazen, but that she did not think the case warranted a felony prosecution because many other cases involving more serious allegations are reduced to misdemeanors. Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers said she thought the ruling was an "abuse of discretion" and her office may appeal it, but no challenge has yet been filed.
