Names and faces

— A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday gave LindsayLohan roughly two weeks to decide if she will fight or take a plea deal in a felony grand-theft case.

Either decision could send the Mean Girls star back behind bars. Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz told Lohan he would sentence her to jail if she accepted a plea deal involving the theft of a $2,500 necklace from an upscale jewelry store. “If you plead in front of me, if this case is resolved in front of me, you are going to jail,” Schwartz said. “Period.” Lohan, 24, has pleaded innocent to the charge. Rejecting the deal would trigger a hearing during which prosecutors would present some of their evidence to another judge.Schwartz said that judge would sentence Lohan for a probation violation if she determined Lohan should stand trial. That could mean Lohan is sentenced to jail even before the theft case is tried. Lohan told Schwartz she understood her options. She is due back in court March 10.

Chris Brown doesn’t have to stay away from Rihanna anymore after a Los Angeles judge on Tuesday downgraded a restraining order in the singer’s felony assault case. Superior Judge Patricia Schnegg’s ruling came after an attorney for Rihanna said she didn’t object to removing the stayaway provisions of an order issued after Brown pleaded guilty to beating her in February 2009. The old order required Brown to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music-industry event. Brown and Rihanna, 23, can now see and speak to each other. But if Brown harasses, threatens, assaults or tracks his ex-girlfriend’s movements, he could be found to be in violation of his probation. The judge said she never would have considered relaxing the order without Rihanna’s consent and until Brown completed domestic-violence counseling. Prosecutors did not object to the change.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 02/24/2011

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