Lindsay Lohan appeared in a Los Angeles court Wednesday to answer to felony grand theft charges.

Lohan was expected to plea not guilty to stealing a necklace worth $2,500 from a Venice, Calif. store.

Lohan arrived at court with her hair pulled back in a long, tight-fitting, high-necked white dress and large sunglasses.

Prosecutors had asked that Lohan's bail be set at $20,000.

Police began investigating Lohan after a store in Venice reported a necklace missing on Jan. 22.

Lohan was photographed wearing the necklace in question. The D.A. also has a surveillance video which shows Lohan walking out of a Venice, CA jewelry store with the necklace in question, TMZ reports. 

Her assistant returned it after the investigation had begun.

The L.A. County District Attorney believes Lohan is a seasoned fashion thief, a primary reason why she's being prosecuted for felony grand theft, TMZ reports.

Sources connected to the case told TMZ that in deciding whether to prosecute, the D.A.'s office considered three incidents where Lohan allegedly stole expensive items:

-- She was suspected of taking a $400,000 necklace in 2009 from an Elle Magazine photo shoot.

-- She was accused of stealing a $12,000 mink coat in 2008 from a NYC nightclub.

-- She was accused of taking a $35,000 Rolex from a "friend" in 2010.

Lohan was not prosecuted or convicted in any of cases, but sources tell TMZ prosecutors not only heavily considered the prior incidents in making their decision, they will ask the judge to admit the three incidents into evidence to show "prior bad acts" if the case goes to trial.

The former Disney star was sentenced to rehab twice and jail twice last year.

The judge will determine if Lohan violated the terms of her probation, which required her to obey all laws and submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

The jewelry case is not Lohan's only concern. Prosecutors in Riverside County are considering whether to charge the actress with battery for an altercation with a rehab worker at the Betty Ford Center in December.

The worker was fired after giving an on-camera interview to celebrity website TMZ, but district attorney's spokesman John Hall has said the allegation against Lohan was under review.

The threat of incarceration has hung over Lohan since May, when a judge handling her DUI case determined she violated her probation by missing weekly alcohol education classes.

Her three stints in jail in the past three years have all been shortened by overcrowding and the fact that she could not be held without bail on a misdemeanor.

Foxnews.com

More From News Talk KIT