Quaids make plea deal in theft case

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 28 (UPI) -- A Santa Barbara (Calif.) County Superior Court judge dismissed theft charges filed against actor Randy Quaid, officials said Wednesday.

Quaid's wife, Evi, pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of defrauding an innkeeper, for which she was sentenced to perform 240 hours of community service within a year, People.com reported.

The Quaids were accused of leaving the San Ysidro Ranch without paying their $10,000 bill last year. They were subsequently charged with burglary, defrauding an innkeeper and conspiracy.

Although they later paid their tab and pleaded innocent to the charges, the couple allegedly neglected to appear in court on multiple occasions to deal with the matter and were jailed briefly this week until they posted $100,000 bail apiece.

"You pay your bills when you leave, and I suppose that's something we can work on in the future," People.com quoted Randy Quaid as saying after Wednesday's closed-door hearing during which the plea deal was reached.

Quaid is best known for his work in the "National Lampoon's Vacation" movies, as well as "Brokeback Mountain," "The Paper," "Kingpin" and "Independence Day."