Winona Ryder Busted for Shoplifting

By C. Young

Friday December 14, 2001 10:40 AM EST

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Oscar-nominated actress Winona Ryder, 30, was arrested at the Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills Wednesday after store clerks said they saw her place an estimated $4,760 worth of clothes and accessories into her bag with the security tags ripped off, Reuters reported. Ryder, who has appeared in more than two dozen films including 1999's "Girl, Interrupted" and 1994's "Reality Bites," is being charged with grand theft. In addition, Ryder is facing a charge of illegal possession of prescription drugs, since police said they found a small number of prescription pills on her. Ryder's attorney, Mark Geragos, said the pills were painkillers prescribed for the actress, and that she was "not under the influence" during the incident, Reuters reported. She was released on $20,000 bail. Police said the actress, who was nominated Oscars for 1994's "Little Women" and 1993's "The Age of Innocence," was observed on video tearing the security tags off clothes, a handbag and hair accessories and placing the goods in a bag with items she had previously purchased. "It will become clear that there was no theft here," Geragos said at a press conference. "Ms. Ryder had no intent of depriving anybody of any property."