As the clock ticks towards the deadline for Lindsay Lohan accepting her offered plea deal, a pal of the troubled actress exclusively tells RadarOnline.com the prosecution is a “complete waste of time” and insists “she is innocent.”

Lindsay has been offered a deal relating to her felony grand theft charge for allegedly stealing a $2,500 necklace from a Venice Beach area jewelry store, but Lindsay’s friend says she shouldn’t have to take a deal, as she did NOT commit a crime.

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“The whole prosecution is a complete waste of time because she is innocent!”  Lohan’s close friend and producer Nathan Folks exclusively told RadarOnline.com.

As quickly as the new member of Lindsay Lohan’s team appeared on the scene – he’s disappeared again!

RadarOnline.com has learned that Keith Middlebrook is no longer helping Lindsay in her legal battle as she fights felony grand theft charges after allegedly stealing a necklace from a Venice Beach jewelers.

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“Keith has been helpful thus far but the team feels he isn’t able to follow through in the way we had hoped,” Nathan Folks, Lindsay’s close friend and the producer of her ‘come-back’ movie Escaping The Game told RadarOnline.com exclusively.

The jewelry store that accused Lindsay Lohan of stealing a necklace is destroying her life -- just to make a fast buck -- says a good pal of Lindsay's in an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com.

"I see, and I know the truth, says Nathan Folks, the movie producer who cast Lohan in his upcoming crime drama Escaping the Game.

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"It is hard to watch what this jewelry store is putting her through when she is innocent. They feel justified destroying her life, just to make a buck, it's really terrible."

Lindsay Lohan's first post-rehab film producer and self-proclaimed "legal consultant" are stirring up new drama in the jewelry heist case, with sensational claims of "foul play" on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Nathan Folks, who has cast Lohan in his upcoming crime drama Escaping the Game, told RadarOnline.com it was he who engaged Keith Middlebrook, who is not a lawyer, to form a legal team "second to none" which supposedly has a proven track record of resolving most cases without jail time.

"Usonian Entertainment hired Keith to make sure that everything was done correctly to keep Lindsay out of jail," Folks told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview.

When a judge warned Lindsay Lohan that she is likely facing jail, the troubled star remained calm and collected, but RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that in reality she feels, "beaten up" and "unhappy" about possible prison time.

In an exclusive interview, director Nathan Folks -- the man hoping to launch her comeback -- says Lohan feels like the victim of a vicious publicity stunt after being accused of stealing a $2,500 necklace, and is determined to come back fighting.

"She feels beaten up," he told RadarOnline.com. "I spoke with her after court and she was not happy with what happened. She just wanted to get on with her life and Lindsay can't do that until this is all over.

Lindsay Lohan could be back before the cameras by late summer, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.

The Mean Girls star has committed to star in Escaping the Game, a drama to be shot in the U.S. and Spain.

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The contracts have not yet been signed, producer Nathan Folks tells RadarOnline.com exclusively but he's optimistic Lindsay will not be going to jail and they can get the deal done in the next several weeks.

"She wants to do it," Folks, who calls Lindsay a good friend, tells us.

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The plot line for Escaping the Game seems right up Lindsay's alley. "It's about celebs who become very famous and can't take it," Folks explains.  Several fake their own deaths and create a new life for themselves on a remote island. Lohan's role would be as an investigator who is hired to get to the bottom of their disappearances.

Folks is so confident Lindsay will stay clean and sober and out of jail, he's already figured out how to get her insured for his $30 million project.

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"We can get her insured if she is with someone who is keeping an eye on her 24/7," Folks explains. "Lindsay and I've discussed it and she's already agreed to the condition."

In talks to costar with Lindsay is Chris Zylka, who appeared in the short-lived TV series 10 Things I Hate About You and should break out big time next year as one of the stars of The Amazing Spider-Man.

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After having dinner with her dad Michael Saturday night, as reported exclusively on RadarOnline.com, Lindsay met up with Zylka to see Ferras perform at a nearby club.

Lindsay even later tweeted about it, writing "Went to see my friend Ferras perform and was talking to a future costar."

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"I put the two of them together to go see the show," Folks reveals.  "They're both Ferras fans and I thought it would be a good chance for them to get to know each other.  They're strictly friends."

Should Lindsay end up going to jail, Folks is prepared to go ahead with the movie without her, but he's convinced that won't happen.

"She's doing great and we're going to prove to the world that she's back."

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