Ryder pleads not guilty to shoplifting charges

Ryder arriving for a January 10 court hearing

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Actress Winona Ryder pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a Beverly Hills courtroom to four felony counts stemming from an alleged shoplifting incident.

The Oscar-nominated star of films such as "The Age of Innocence" and "Girl, Interrupted" is accused of shoplifting more than $4,000 worth of merchandise from the Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills December 12. Police said Ryder took numerous women's hair accessories, handbags and various items of women's clothing.

Her arraignment came three days earlier than expected. She was scheduled to be arraigned Friday on one count each of grand theft, commercial burglary, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance.

Such "impromptu" arraignments are not unusual for well-known defendants, and are an effective way to dodge the media spotlight, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles District Attorney's office said.

Mark Geragos, the attorney representing Ryder, had told CNN previous to Tuesday's arraignment that his client is a victim of an overzealous prosecutor's office. A preliminary hearing to set a pre-trial date has been scheduled for March 11.