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Prosecutor recommends probation for actress Winona Ryder
From Matt Carey
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Winona Ryder could avoid jail time on her felony convictions for grand theft and vandalism if a judge follows sentencing recommendations announced Tuesday by the district attorney's office. District Attorney Ann Rundle recommended that Judge Elden Fox sentence the actress to three years of probation and order her to undergo drug and psychiatric counseling. The prosecutor also recommended that Ryder be ordered to complete 480 hours of community service, pay fines of $20,000 and pay restitution of $6,355.40 to Saks Fifth Avenue. Sentencing is set for Friday, a month after a jury in Beverly Hills found the Oscar nominee guilty of the two felonies but acquitted her of burglary. Under California law, Ryder could face up to three years in prison on each of the felony convictions. Ryder's attorney, Mark Geragos, was unavailable for comment. Her publicist, Mara Buxbaum, told CNN she would withhold comment on the prosecutor's recommendations until after the sentencing hearing Friday. In a sentencing memorandum filed with Superior Court in Beverly Hills, prosecutors outlined aggravating and mitigating circumstances that factored into their recommendations to the judge. Ryder's crime of shoplifting indicated "planning, sophistication [and] professionalism," Rundle said. On the mitigating side, the district attorney pointed out that Ryder has no known prior convictions. Rundle asked the court to order Ryder to use only her real name, Winona Horowitz, or her stage name, Winona Ryder, in the future. The district attorney wants her specifically barred from using the name Emily Thompson, the alias under which Ryder allegedly obtained a quantity of the pain medication Endocet from a physician. Ryder was originally charged with felony drug possession on top of the other counts, but that was dropped when prosecutors acknowledged Ryder had received the pain medication through a doctor. Ryder has not accepted any film offers pending the outcome of sentencing. Her publicist told CNN the actress has several offers for film projects, but won't make a decision on them until after Friday.
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