Prosecutors: Winona Had 'Prior Acts'

By Stephen M. Silverman

Wednesday September 11, 2002 01:00 PM EDT

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Prosecutors are apparently turning up the heat on Winona Ryder by filing a motion to admit evidence of alleged previous misdeeds in her upcoming trial on shoplifting charges, officials tell Reuters.

The Oscar nominee and star of "Girl, Interrupted" is charged with four felony counts, including grand theft, second-degree burglary and vandalism for allegedly cutting security tags off nearly $5,000 worth of merchandise in the Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue store last Dec. 12. Ryder, 30, also was charged with unlawful possession of the prescription painkiller oxycodone.

She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains free on $20,000 bail.

Details of the motion "to admit evidence of prior acts," which was filed Monday, remained sealed.

According to Reuters, prosecutors say the case should be made public, while Ryder's attorneys have claimed all along that she is the victim of a "prosecutorial feeding frenzy."

"We feel that this is a public case, and all these things should be open to public scrutiny," said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Ryder is expected in court Thursday, when her trial date is to be scheduled by the judge. Her lead attorney, Mark Geragos, is reportedly involved in another case, however, suggesting that court date could be delayed.

There has been no comment from Geragos on Monday's move by the prosecutors. According to court records, Ryder has never been charged or convicted of such a crime in the past.