Winona Ryder Charged With Four Felonies

LOS ANGELES – Reality bites for Winona Ryder.

The 30-year-old actress was charged Friday with felony counts of theft, burglary, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance.

The Girl, Interrupted star was arrested Dec. 12  for allegedly shoplifting $4,760 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, and possessing painkillers without a prescription.

"She has already been booked. She is free on $20,000 bail. The complaint filed today calls for $30,000. It will be up to the court on Feb. 8 whether to increase the bail or not," said district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

Ryder's attorney, Mark Geragos, contended the actress was merely carrying items between store departments, not trying to steal them. He said she had receipts for other items she bought in the store, and a valid prescription for the painkillers.

Ryder earned Oscar nominations for playing the heroines in period films, Little Women and The Age of Innocence. She starred also starred in Heathers, Beetlejuice and Reality Bites.

A star since her teens, Ryder grew up in hippie surroundings, living at times in San Francisco and on a California commune. Her family's friends included beat poet Allen Ginsberg, and her godfather was psychedelic drug advocate Timothy Leary.

Ryder, who has dated actors Matt Damon and Johnny Depp, has maintained a grueling film schedule she has blamed for causing occasional mental breakdowns.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.