Lohan Rejects Plea in Case that
Again Mocks Legal System
by Dan Ehrlich

Lindsay Lohan has rejected the plea deal offered her by a Los Angeles court and now will more than likely stand trial on a theft charge in an alleged jewelry store shoplifting incident which could land her in jail for as long as three years. But this is Hollywood where showbiz people think they live the "Californication" dream.

It's a good bet Lohan is counting on the video tape from a jewelry store in question being insufficient to convict her along with it possibly being ruled inadmissible evidence since it was sold to the highest bidder.

Where else but Los Angeles could a robbery suspect sue the victim for selling key evidence to the public that possibly proves the suspect’s guilt, while the court stands idly by wondering what to do next?

Yet, aside of pleading "not guilty," this is exactly what 'actress' and fading hottie Lohan claims she’s doing to a Venice Beach jewelry store where she is alleged to have stolen a $2,500 necklace. But just as amazing is why the police and court hadn’t seized the videotape surveillance footage as material evidence in the case against Lohan.

The case is taking on the air of a cheap 60s comedy TV series. Jewelers Kamofie & Company  released the CCTV tapes after reportedly to striking a deal worth $40,000 leaving the judge, lawyers and Lohan red faced and asking what just happened?

The news has infuriated the Mean Girls star, who argues the jewelers are attempting to cash in on her name (tell us another one) and she is preparing to take them to court because she never granted the store owners permission to use her image for profit.

Both the prosecution and the defense are extremely unhappy that the jewelry store sold the tape. The defense fears what the tape may show and the prosecution worries its case may be badly damaged, which could be good news for Lindsay…Since the prosecution’s key evidence is now tainted…either it shows her taking it or not…there may not be legal grounds to convict her.

But a representative for Kamofie & Company has defended the decision to release the tapes...why not…they made a $37,500 profit.

The loser is this situation could be American justice and good journalism. Once again a celebrity in the headlines has the legal system itself on trial. And in decades past decent news outlets wouldn't stoop to wrecking a trial by buying pieces of evidence for public dissemination. Yet, this seems to be a peculiar American thing since places such as Britain have laws that make it a criminal offense to disclose vital information that may damage a case or a suspect's right to a fair trial.

Yet this could have been avoided had the tape been seized by the court as material evidence in a criminal prosecution. The judge in the case has admitted his anger at the way confidential information has leaked out and is made public before court hearings take place.