Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A Beverly Hills jury found actress Winona Ryder guilty of grand theft and vandalism Wednesday, but acquitted her on a charge of commercial burglary -- and the prosecutor in the case said she will not ask that Ryder be sentenced to any time in jail. The Oscar-nominated star of "Girl, Interrupted" and "Little Women" was arrested in December 2001 and accused of shoplifting from Saks Fifth Avenue, near the world-famous Rodeo Drive shopping district. After five days of testimony last week, the case went to the jury Monday afternoon. Advertisement Ryder, 31, was charged with stealing more than $5,500 worth of merchandise. She faced up to three years in prison if convicted on all charges. Superior Court Judge Elden Fox scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 6. Speaking outside the courthouse after the verdict was read, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Ann Rundle said she will not ask the judge to send Ryder to jail. Advertisement "I think we're dealing with a probationary sentence here, and some community service and of course restitution to Saks Fifth Avenue for the damaged property," said Rundle. "This case was never about jail time. We never asked for any jail time. We will not be asking for any jail time in this matter. We're simply asking Ms. Ryder to take responsibility for her conduct." Howard Weitzman, who has represented several celebrities including O.J. Simpson, said the prosecution's decision not to ask for jail time was appropriate. "If she needs some counseling, that might be appropriate," said Weitzman. Rundle said prosecutors were happy with the verdict and thanked "the good people at Saks Fifth Avenue who endured 12 months of personal attacks." She singled out Saks security officials "who held themselves with dignity throughout this entire year -- when they were being followed, when their personal finances were being investigated and their lives were being turned upside down." After the verdict was read, Judge Fox told jurors they were free to speak -- or to decline to speak -- to anyone about the case. However, the judge ordered jurors not to accept any remuneration for their accounts of the case for three months. Advertisement "'Jerry Springer' and 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' are off limits," said Fox. The case has been a media magnet from the beginning, attracting entertainment journalists from around the world. Ryder's attorney Mark Geragos accused prosecutors and Saks security officials of going to extraordinary lengths to persecute his client, but Rundle said there was nothing extraordinary about the case except for the intense media coverage. "I think the media has decided on their own without any evidence that extraordinary resources were put into this case," said Rundle. "That is simply not the truth." In her closing argument, Rundle told the jury the case against Ryder was clear. "She came, she stole, she left, end of story," said Rundle. During the trial, the jury watched a store security videotape that prosecutors said showed Ryder clipping security tags from merchandise and stuffing items in her bag. Rundle asked the jury to decide whether the tape showed "a glamorous celebrity" or someone preparing to shoplift. Ryder's lawyer Mark Geragos argued that the tape only showed Ryder was on a "legitimate" shopping trip -- not stealing. The tape has been released to the media. Advertisement Prosecutors put Saks Fifth Avenue security employees on the stand to testify that Ryder confessed after they arrested her on the sidewalk outside the store. The witnesses said that Ryder admitted taking the merchandise as part of her preparation for a role. Rundle reminded jurors that shoplifting is still a crime, and that "there is no evidence that a director told her to do it." Geragos put a former Saks employee on the stand to testify that store security official had vowed to "nail" Ryder. Most Hollywood professionals agree that the conviction is unlikely to hurt Ryder's career. There have been reports that she has been receiving more scripts than usual from producers. Weitzman said the verdict would, however, serve as a wakeup call for Ryder. "And with her profile and celebrity, she'd be noticed walking into any store," he said.
