When Calls the Heart alum Lori Loughlin pleads not guilty to new charges

The saga of Lori Loughlin is still going strong, and today, it was made clear that there is still an intense legal battle looming.

Per a new report coming in via the Associated Press, the Fuller House and When Calls the Heart actress entered a not guilty plea alongside her husband Mossimo Giannulli. Last month, the charges were added onto others, including “conspiracy to commit federal program bribery.” The two are among many accused of paying $500,000 in order to get their daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as athletic recruits, even though they were not.

Loughlin and her husband are among many parents accused of crimes within the larger college admissions scandal. These headlines have already led to one television movie, and Loughlin was fired from When Calls the Heart as a result of the charges. She was never a full-time cast member on Fuller House, but she has made a wide array of appearances as Aunt Becky since the start of the series. At present, there are no plans for her to return for the fifth and final season. Loughlin has taken a different approach than Felicity Huffman, who entered a plea of guilty and has since both served time and is now released from prison.

In opting for a not guilty plea, there is a chance that Loughlin can escape this scandal without any enormous legal consequences; yet, there is also a chance that she finds herself in tremendous legal jeopardy and facing a far longer stint behind bars than what Huffman received. In addition to the larger punishment, it may also prove challenging for Lori to find more acting roles or chances to earn money during this span of time; it is a process that will likely continue for many weeks and months now moving forward.

So what’s next for both of Loughlin’s former shows? Fuller House is nearing the end of its final-season production; meanwhile, When Calls the Heart kicked off filming on its latest season earlier this year and we anticipate it premiering in the winter/spring of 2020. That show went so far as to edit Loughlin’s character of Abigail out of scenes that were previously shot last season.

What do you think is going to happen to Lori Loughlin following all of this?

Be sure to share your thoughts and reactions to the subject below! Meanwhile, stick around — we’ll have more news coming up. (Photo: Hallmark Channel.)