LOS ANGELES - California officials on Thursday charged Lindsay Lohan with cocaine possession and drunken driving. The 21-year-old actress, who is in the midst of her third rehab stint of 2007, escaped more serious felony charges that could have landed her in jail for more than a year.
Lohan was arrested in May after wrecking her car in Beverly Hills, and again in July following a car chase in the Los Angeles area community of Santa Monica.
While numerous, the infractions carry a minimum of just four days in county jail, should she be found guilty. The maximum penalty for a single misdemeanor DUI conviction is six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Conviction on a second charge, however, increases the maximum penalty to one year behind bars.
The sensational bust took place in Santa Monica in the early morning hours and came after the mother of Lohan’s former personal assistant phoned the police, claiming she was being pursued by a white SUV that turned out to be driven by Lohan.
The actress, who is in a rehab clinic in Utah, has been charged with seven misdemeanor counts, including driving under the influence, driving with a blood alcohol level over the limit of .08 percent, being under the influence of cocaine and reckless driving.
A spokeswoman for the District Attorney declined to comment on whether Lohan would face jail time. Her arraignment is scheduled for Friday.
Lohan’s attorney is expected to meet with law enforcement officials and a judge on Thursday afternoon, and a settlement could be reached before Lohan’s arraignment, the District Attorney’s office said in its statement.
Lohan’s arraignment on the charges is scheduled for Friday in Beverly Hills, although the matter could be addressed later on Thursday if Lohan’s attorneys agree to have it fast-tracked. The actress does not have to be present at either conference. It was unclear at press time how much, if any, time Lohan would serve on the charges.