A Beverly Hills judge Tuesday sentenced Lindsay Lohan to 90 days in jail for repeatedly violating the terms of her probation, ignoring the actress' tearful pleas for one more chance.
In a dramatic courtroom showdown, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Marsha N. Revel listened as Lohan promised to do better and defended her failure to attend weekly alcohol education classes and follow earlier orders by the judge.
But Revel was having none if it, offering a list of instances in which the actress lied to the court and to authorities. Revel handed down three 30-day sentences and also ordered her to spend 90 days in a locked-down drug rehabilitation facility — a much stiffer penalty than L.A. prosecutors had sought.
"There were a number of instances of [Lohan] not taking things seriously," Revel said. "It's like someone who cheats but doesn't think it's cheating if they don't get caught."
The case stems from two drunk-driving arrests in 2007. Lohan has repeatedly failed to follow the terms of her probation in the case — including earlier this year when she failed to appear for a mandatory court appearance in Beverly Hills. Photos surfaced of her partying at the Cannes International Film Festival at the time, angering the judge. Lohan maintained that she could not attend because someone had stolen her passport.
Revel said Lohan has repeatedly refused to admit her culpability, twice telling authorities that someone else was driving the vehicles involved in drunk driving accidents.
The judge said Lohan lied again when a white substance was found in her pants, claiming the pants belonged to someone else. Revel said she tested positive for cocaine after the arrest, and the pants turned out to be "her favorite pants."
"She lied then and lied prior to that," Revel added.
Lohan surprised the courtroom by asking to address the judge directly before sentencing.
"As far as I knew I was in compliance with my programs," Lohan said, fighting back tears.
"I wasn't trying to get special treatment," she added. "I have to provide for myself. I have to work. Having said that, I did everything to balance my jobs and showing up. I'm not taking this as a joke. It's my life. It's my career. … I take responsibility for my actions. I've tried to do the best I can. It's been such a long haul. … I don't want you to think that I don't respect you."
Lohan is scheduled to surrender to authorities July 20 and will be housed at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, in a wing that is separate from the rest of the jail population.
She is expected to serve only a fraction of the 90 days because of severe jail overcrowding.
Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said department officials could not say exactly how much time Lohan would serve but noted that most nonviolent female offenders serve one-quarter or less of their sentences. That calculation is based on factors that include credit for good behavior and crowd levels when she shows up for jail.
In 2007, hotel heiress and reality TV star Paris Hilton generated national headlines when she was released from custody after less than four full days in the Lynwood jail, despite a promise by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department that she would serve 23 days of a 45-day sentence. She was eventually sent back to jail to finish the sentence.
Lohan's defense attorney urged the judge to focus on what the actress has accomplished, not just on her failures.
Defense attorney Shawn Chapman Holley told the court that Lohan had complied with most of the court's orders and was "absolutely on track to finish" the alcohol education program by the July 15 deadline.
"She's gotten it together" Chapman Holley said
But Deputy Dist. Atty. Danette Myers argued that Lohan clearly ignored the court's December 2009 directive by not attending each week of the classes.
"Not once, but seven times she has not complied with this court's orders," Myers said.
During the hearing Tuesday, Revel repeatedly asked program operator Cheryl Marshall why she had failed to report Lohan's absences to the court before the actress had her bail revoked.
Under questions from the prosecutor, Marshall told the court that Lohan did not sign in on some days the program claimed she had attended and that her signature was on a sign-in sheet on a day she did not attend.
Then, last month, the alarm on Lohan's alcohol-monitoring device was triggered on the same night that Lohan attended the MTV Music Awards. Lohan claimed the monitor went off by mistake, while prosecutors said she had been drinking.
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