From Radar:
Amanda Bynes formally pleaded not guilty in a Van Nuys, Calif. courtroom Thursday morning to charges related to her hit and run cases, and the Hairspray actress was ordered to turn herself into cops, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.
The wayward actress wasn’t personally in court for the proceedings, which lasted less than 10 minutes. Instead, Bynes’ attorney entered the not guilty plea on her behalf. The judge also ordered Bynes to formally turn herself into to be booked by October 21 so that she can be fingerprinted and have her mug shot taken.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, the former Nickelodeon star, who’s facing five criminal charges in Los Angeles, including a DUI, two separate hit & run accidents and two counts of driving on a suspended license, doesn’t feel the need to stay in Los Angeles anymore since she can’t drive.
“Amanda isn’t required to be in court so she has gone to New York City and says she plans on making it a permanent move,” an insider told Radar. “Amanda is adamant that she is retired from acting and wants to begin a new life in New York as a fashion designer. She thinks she can live a more normal life on the East Coast and won’t be hounded by the paps.”
The pretrial hearing will take place on October 19.
By the way, Amanda wasn’t in court because she was busy shopping in New York. Oh, and if she gets convicted for those hit-and-runs, she faces a maximum sentence of a year in prison or a $2,000 fine. I’m not sure, but I’m guessing the minimum sentence would be something like a series of unflattering pictures taken in the courtroom. I’m guessing her sentencing is going to be more like the latter.
In other Amanda Bynes news, you know how we just talked about her similarities with our dear Lindsay Lohan? Well, it’s pretty obvious that Amanda is aware of those comparisons, because since she’s been in New York, she’s been calling ahead before she goes anywhere to make sure Lindsay isn’t there. Like, “oh, I’d like to go to this restaurant, let me holler and make sure Lindz isn’t there,” or “hey, it’d be neat to go to this shop, but I have to make a quick call first.” According to some source, she “knows the press would go into a feeding frenzy if she and Lindsay were in the same place,” and also she’s still pretty pissed about that thing that Lindsay tweeted about her.
In the last bit of Amanda Bynes talk, do you want to know what’s really sad? This:
Almost every person who wants to work out a deal with the prosecution pleads not guilty. Its actually the best thing anyone in the court system can do, whether if they believe themselves guilty or not. Its very frustrating to come on this website and see commentaries on the law all the time, if you do not know how the system works don’t bash the person for doing what is favorable to their position. Any lawyer would tell you its best to plead not guilty. Further most lawyers also make their clients sign a waiver of appearance so they do not have to show up to court to every single hearing as in most cases it isnt necessary for them to be at court. People are only required to go to specific ones, and most people take this route. It is not against the law or even wrong that she waived her appearance. Its what people do.