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Lindsay Lohan Rejects Plea Deal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lindsay Lohan rejected a judge's offer to end a felony grand theft case early on Wednesday, signaling the actress intends to fight a case filed over a necklace she has been accused of stealing from a upscale jewelry store.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz never publicly detailed the terms of his offer to Lohan, but said if she pleaded no contest or guilty in the case, he would sentence her to jail. Prosecutors are also seeking jail time for the "Mean Girls" star, who was on probation for a 2007 drunken driving case when a store in Venice told police that Lohan had taken a necklace without permission in January.

Lohan's attorney Shawn Holley notified the prosecutor handling the case that Lohan would not be taking Schwartz's plea offer, district attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison said. Wednesday was the deadline for Lohan to notify Schwartz of her intentions and she will now be required to appear in court on April 22 for a preliminary hearing.

The hearing will be conducted by a new judge -- the fourth one Lohan has faced in the past year -- who will determine whether there is enough evidence for Lohan to stand trial on the felony grand theft charge.

If the judge rules Lohan should stand trial, the actress could immediately be sentenced for a probation violation and sent to jail for the fourth time.

The actress, 24, has pleaded not guilty to the charge and denied wrongdoing.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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