Reality Bites for Winona Ryder

As the ongoing saga of Winona Ryder’s alleged shoplifting spree continues, a Beverly Hills judge rejected Ryder’s request Monday to have the L.A. County District Attorney’s office removed from the case. Ryder’s attorney, Mark Geragos, claimed that the prosecutors were "trying to humiliate his client" and "stop her from having a fair trial." He asked for the California State Attorney General’s office to take over the case. The request was denied by Superior Court Judge Elden Fox, who stated that Geragos could not support the claims.

Ryder was arrested in December on four felony counts after her alleged shoplifting spree at Saks Fifth Avenue on Wilshire Boulevard. She was arrested December 12 after allegedly shoplifting approximately $5,000 in clothing and accessories. At the time of her arrest she was in possession of the painkiller oxycodone without a prescription. Ryder has pleaded innocent to all charges and is out on $20,000 bail.

There has been speculation that Ryder’s camp has tried to sabotage the case from the beginning. There were four separate court date postponements at the request of Ryder’s defense team. She was inadvertently struck by a paparazzo’s camera and her arm was broken. Her attorney’s have portrayed her as the victim and accused Saks employees of attempting to "bust a celebrity during the Christmas shopping season." Ryder’s behavior outside the court room has been to mock her situation. She appeared on Saturday Night Live and mocked the situation in several skits and she also graced the cover of W magazine wearing a "Free Winona" tee shirt. She doesn’t seem too concerned that this may leave a bad taste in the mouths of others – wonder if the jury will think it’s funny?