Actress Lindsay Lohan appears in court as she pleads not guilty, to a grand theft charge of stealing a $2,500 necklace from a jewelry store, in Los Angeles February 9, 2011. Dressed all in white for a brief court appearance, Lohan, 24, was charged with a single count of felony grand theft. If convicted, the "Mean Girls" star could be sent to prison for up to three years, prosecutors say. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A Los Angeles judge warned troubled actress Lindsay Lohan on Wednesday that she could languish behind bars if she makes a plea bargain in her felony grand theft case.

"If the case settles here ... you will be going to jail, period, " Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Keith L. Schwartz told Lohan in a hearing held in Airport Courthouse in the morning.

If the case doesn't settle during Lohan's next court appearance on March 10, the "Mean Girls" starlet will face a hearing before Judge Stephanie Sautner to determine if there is enough evidence to require her to stand trial.

Sautner also would at the same time conduct a hearing to determine if Lohan had violated her probation in a 2007 misdemeanor DUI case, according to the judge.

Lohan, free on 40,000-dollar bail and living in Venice lately, was reported to have walked out of a high-end jewelry store on Abbot Kinney Boulevard on Jan. 22 with a necklace valued at 2,500 dollars. She was charged Feb. 9 with grand theft, a felony which carries a one to three year jail term.

Schwartz did not speculate how much time the 24-year-old star could face, but said some time would be mandatory. As a possible condition, Lohan would have to receive mandatory counseling and get an addiction sponsor who is not a family member.

Prosecutor Danette Meyers has offered a plea bargain, but Schwartz doubted if Lohan would take the deal, saying "I get the impression you're not going to accept the DA's offer."

Lohan's attorney would discuss any plea deal with her between now and the March 10 hearing, Schwartz said. Lohan could avoid jail time, if she beats the theft charge or accepts a plea deal that includes that stipulation.

If convicted, this would be the actress' fourth time languishing behind bars in the past year that was marked by repeated court appearances, jail stints and rehab visits.