The father of teen star Lindsay Lohan pleaded not guilty Tuesday to an upgraded felony charge in connection with a fiery car crash on Long Island in February.
Michael Lohan, 44, was initially charged with driving while intoxicated — a misdemeanor — and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked license — a violation — following the accident in Syosset in the early morning hours of Feb. 19.
Lohan was the only occupant of the vehicle, which left a road and struck a utility pole shortly after midnight, police said. He got out before it burst into flames and was not injured.
The violation was upgraded to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle after investigators determined that Lohan had been driving with a suspended or revoked license from a prior conviction of driving under the influence and had a blood alcohol limit nearly double the legal limit, said prosecutor Joy Watson.
Lohan, who has been held without bail, faces 1 1/3 years to 4 years in prison if convicted of the upgraded charge.
Watson said Lohan had a blood alcohol level of .14 — nearly double the legal limit of .08. She said the misdemeanor charge remains in effect.
Defense lawyer Rory Calhoun told reporters outside the courtroom that Lohan is trying to “straighten out his life” and is enrolled in an alcohol abuse program at the Nassau County jail.
His next court date is set for April 26.
This is the latest in a series of scrapes with the law for Lohan, father of the 18-year-old star of films such as “The Parent Trap,” “Mean Girls,” “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” and “Freaky Friday.”
In December, Lohan pleaded guilty in Nassau County Court to several charges, including assaulting his brother-in-law at a communion party, and was ordered into drug and alcohol treatment and therapy. He has yet to be sentenced.
He also was arrested last June in Suffolk County after allegedly skipping out on a $3,800 bill for several suites at Oheka Castle in Cold Spring Hills.