Amanda Bynes blew off a hearing on her wacky bong-tossing case on Thursday, but a Manhattan judge cut her slack as lawyers inched toward a plea bargain.
Criminal Court Judge Diana Boyar said the “Hairspray” actress should have been in court, ready for trial, as long as she wasn’t locked up in a psych ward.
“It’s on for trial,” Boyar said. “If the defendant fails to appear there will be a bench warrant.”
Defense lawyer Gerald Shargel explained that Bynes had recently been cut loose to the custody of her parents.
The prosecutor said a warrant for Bynes’ arrest wouldn’t be necessary because the sides are close to cutting a deal. That assessment satisfied Boyar, who then ordered Bynes to appear in her courtroom on Jan. 10.
“She couldn’t be here. I’d tell you more but I’m reticent about being on the record,” Shargel told Boyar.
Outside court, Shargel declined to offer more details of Bynes’ release from a Southern California psychiatric facility.
“I think the misunderstanding, if there were one, is of no consequence,” Shargel said of Bynes’ no-show. “I said to the judge and the judge acknowledged that she has been released to the custody of her parents.”
He added: “There are privacy issues here …these are very personal issues.”
Bynes’ lawyer predicted a deal would be struck by next month.
“The assistant district attorney said we’re working toward a fair resolution of the case. I expect a fair resolution of the case and I think it will be done by January,” Shargel said.
“As I said from the beginning, we’re just trying to achieve a fair and just resolution.”
Bynes was arrested in May for allegedly hurling a bong out the 36th-floor window of her West Side apartment.
The troubled actress tossed it after cops responded to a report that she had smoked a joint in her building lobby, authorities said.
Adding more comedy to the case, Bynes donned a blue wig to one of her court appearances this past summer.