Lindsay Lohan Trial Date Set; Star Faces 200 Days in Jail
After a last-minute change of heart, Lindsay Lohan appeared in court today to learn her fate. Lohan was due in court after allegedly lying to police about her participation in a car accident; the troubled star faces jail time for lying and violating the rules of her probation.
Lohan and her mother Dina arrived at the courthouse in Los Angeles after taking a red-eye flight from New York. Lohan had not planned on attending the hearing but, at the very last moment, grabbed a flight and spent time searching for a hotel after she and her mother were turned away from two others, according to reports.
Mark Heller was chosen to represent Lohan, which her family was reportedly not pleased with. Lohan's former attorney, Shawn Holley, was fired after Lohan failed to make payments; she currently owes Holley $300,000 in fees for previous work.
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"It will be in Miss Lohan's best interest to bring closure to this drama in her life," Heller told Judge Stephanie Sautner during this morning's proceedings, according to Radar Online.
"Flattery doesn't get you anywhere in this court," Judge Sautner replied when Heller noted it was "an honor" to appear in her courtroom.
After dispensing with the pleasantries, Judge Sautner got down to business. She set a pre-trial date of March 1, 2013 and an official trial start date of March 18. Lohan was reminded that she has to appear for her trial on the 18th, and the judge informed her that her probation remains revoked until the trial.
The whole process took less than 15 minutes, but Judge Sautner reminded her that she could still face over 200 days in jail if she's found guilty of lying to police and violating her probation. It's not the first time that Lohan has been in trouble with the law, but her last-minute decision to appear could be a sign that she is taking her charges seriously.
