Lenny Dykstra Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Grand Theft Auto

Lenny Dykstra, the former Mets outfielder who has had financial and legal troubles for the past few years, was sentenced to three years in California state prison today. A Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge refused to allow him to withdraw his no-contest plea to grand theft auto and he was immediately taken into custody.

Last April, cops had arrested Dykstra, 49, and two others, claiming they "leased a Ford Flex, a Lincoln and a Ford Mustang using fraudulent information tied to identity theft and a fake start-up company." Authorities also found cocaine, ecstasy and human growth hormone in Dykstra's home.

Dykstra had pleaded no contest to filing a false financial statement and grand theft auto and got the drug charges dropped, but recently claimed to the Daily News, "They locked me up and did not investigate this case. If the detective would have contacted my New York lawyer and done his job, he would have learned my company was real. They locked me up in maximum security like Hannibal Lecter. I couldn’t use the phone and didn’t have a visitor for four months. I couldn’t communicate with the outside world. What happened to innocent until proven guilty."

According to the AP, Judge Cynthia Ulfig today "said the theft scheme showed sophistication and extensive planning. Prosecutors said Dykstra and two co-defendants tried to lease and then sell high-end cars from several car dealerships by claiming credit through a phony business. His accountant, Robert Hymers, pleaded no contest to one count of identity theft, while Christopher Gavanis pleaded no contest to one count of filing a false financial statement. They are both awaiting sentencing."