Winona Ryder Appears In Court
A judge Thursday gave prosecutors more time to consider whether to bring criminal charges against "Girl, Interrupted" star Winona Ryder, who was arrested last month for allegedly shoplifting nearly $5,000 in clothing and accessories from a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills.
Dressed in a black skirt, white blouse and black sweater, Ryder, 30, was brought into the Beverly Hills Superior Court through a back entrance for a brief hearing at which Judge Elden Fox extended her bond until Feb. 8, pending further investigation of the case, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said.
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office was continuing to review the case, spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said outside court.
"We want to review all the possible evidence before we make a decision on this case," Gibbons said.
Ryder, who starred as a troubled teen in "Girl, Interrupted" and won Oscar nominations for "The Age of Innocence" and "Little Women," was arrested Dec. 12 at Saks Fifth Avenue on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, in the heart of one of the world's most expensive shopping districts.
Her arrest came after clerks said they saw her cram clothes and accessories into a bag after ripping off their security tags, police said.
Ryder also faced possible drug charges after she was found carrying a small amount of pills without a prescription.
Ryder's attorney, Mark Geragos, said at the time that Ryder's arrest stemmed from a "misunderstanding" and predicted charges against her would ultimately be dismissed.
"It will become clear that there was no theft here," Geragos said. "Ms. Ryder had no intent of depriving anybody of any property."
Geragos contends that Ryder was merely carrying items between store departments, not trying to steal them. He said she has receipts for other items she bought in the store, and a valid prescription for the painkillers.
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