Hollywood debates Winona's sentence

Ryder's trial could bring her a new audience

By Peter Bowes BBC correspondent in Hollywood

The sentencing of Winona Ryder could be described as one of the biggest anti-climaxes in recent Hollywood history.

On the day, it came as no surprise that the actress avoided jail time and was ordered to do 480 hours of community service.

Prosecutors had long since let it be known that they were not seeking to put the twice Oscar-nominated star behind bars.

Ryder seemed upset during sentencing, but her career need not suffer

But her punishment is far from soft. The actress will be on probation for three years and any minor infringement of the law during that time will result in her being sent straight to jail.

She has also been fined $3,700 and ordered to pay the Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills $6,300 compensation for the damage she caused to their goods.

The terms of the sentence were thrashed out ahead of the final courtroom showdown.

The 480 hours of community service will be split between three organisations caring for the sick, the blind and babies with Aids.

Courtroom fireworks

In a statement, Ryder's publicist said the actress was "thankful that the judge has allowed the community service to enable her continued work with children".

"Winona accepts responsibility for what happened," the statement added. "She will fulfil her sentence as laid out by the judge."

While the outcome was expected, the closing scene of this year-long drama offered a final opportunity for some courtroom fireworks.

In a last-ditch attempt to sway the judge towards leniency, Ryder's lawyer, Mark Geragos, was at pains to point out the caring and charitable nature of his client's personal history.

Ryder had defenders in and out of court including Mark Klaas

For example, she had played a key role in attempting to seek the return of Polly Klaas, a 12-year-old girl kidnapped from Ryder's hometown of Petaluma in northern California in 1993.

The girl was eventually found murdered and the prosecutor Ann Rundle said she objected to the way the defence lawyer was "trotting out the body of a dead child".

Ryder responded by standing up and glaring at Ms Rundle.

Polly Klaas' father, Mark Klaas, said he was outraged by the prosecutor's reference to his daughter.

He added that Ryder "may be a double felon, but she's a double felon with a very big heart and spirit".

Celebrity criminals

Away from the courtroom, Hollywood has been contemplating the impact of the sentence on Ryder's career.

The actress joins a long list of celebrity criminals - most of whom have emerged relatively unscathed from their brush with the law.

The one thing they won't forgive you for is for box office failures

Hollywood author James Parish

Charlie Sheen, Christian Slater and Robert Downey Jr have all bounced back.

"She is highly regarded as a talented personality and that always counts for more than what you did wrong," said James Parish, author of Hollywood Divas and Hollywood Bad Boys.

Mr Parish added that Hollywood's top brass were unlikely to be put off by Ryder's criminal record.

"The one thing they won't forgive you for is for box office failures," he said.

New visibility

Ryder had a supporting role in Adam Sandler's summer blockbuster, Mr Deeds, although her parts tend to be darker in nature than in the romantic comedy.

"She's always been a little hard to cast anyway. It has to be a very, highly sensitive role - Girl Interrupted - or some neurotic type part like The Crucible - so it's not as if she has a wide choice to start with," said Mr Parish.

"I don't think it'll affect her career very much at all," added celebrity journalist Gayl Murphy.

"If nothing else, this trial has given her the visibility that perhaps she didn't have on her own.

"Although she was very well known before, people will go and see her movies just out of curiosity," she said.