Kim Richards’ latest decision could mean jail time

Kim Richards‘ legal troubles just took another unexpected turn.

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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star skipped her Monday court appearance, according to People, and rejected the plea deal she had been offered.

“She didn’t attend because she had some sort of injury to her foot, and therefore couldn’t appear,” Ricardo Santiago, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, told the site. “The judge accepted the explanation and allowed her attorney to appear on her behalf.”

And Santiago confirmed rumors that Richards had chosen not to accept a plea deal she had been offered.

“There were conversations about a negotiated settlement being offered by our office, but the offer was rejected by the defense,” he said.

The deal included 36 months probation, 30 days community labor and 52 Alcoholics Anonymous classes in exchange for a guilty plea. Santiago said Richards’ attorney turned down the deal on her behalf because “they wanted community service instead of community labor.”

So what does this mean for Richards’ case? She’ll now proceed to her pre-trial court date on Sept. 14. If the case goes to court and Richards is found guilty, she’s likely to serve jail time for the public intoxication charge that resulted from her April arrest.

Richards is also still working through legal issues surrounding her more recent arrest; on Aug. 2, she was arrested for allegedly shoplifting nearly $600 worth of merchandise from a Los Angeles area Target store.

Richards has admitted to struggling with alcoholism and was in and out of rehab last spring. Recent reports say she won’t be returning to TheReal Housewives of Beverly Hills in its upcoming season and that she’s closed herself off from her family — a source told People that “no one understands what she’s doing” and that “her family is so concerned. And they’re fed up. She’s cut herself off from friends and family who care about her.”

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Do you think Richards should have taken the plea deal? Head down to the comments and share your thoughts.