Winona Ryder in "Girl, Interrupted" |
HOLLYWOOD - Actress Winona Ryder pleaded innocent on Tuesday to shoplifting and drug possession charges against her after she was allegedly caught stealing items from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.The Oscar-nominated actress was arrested Dec. 12 when a department store video showed Ryder allegedly tearing off security tags and stuffing clothes worth about $4,800 into her bag. Officers also found an unmarked bottle of Oxycodone painkillers in her purse, for which she could not produce a prescription.
Ryder, currently free on bail, is charged with felony offenses of grand theft, second-degree commercial burglary, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance.
If convicted of all four charges she could be sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.
According to Reuters, Ryder's unexpected appearance at the Beverly Hills Courthouse for her arraignment came as a big surprise to reporters.
Ryder's lawyer has called the charges "unsubstantiated" and has maintained Ryder has a prescription for the painkillers. He said that the entire incident was a "misunderstanding."