LOS ANGELES - "Will & Grace" actress Shelley Morrison will fight misdemeanor shoplifting charges, her attorney said Wednesday.

Morrison, who plays wisecracking Rosario Salazar, the Salvadoran maid of socialite Karen Walker on the show, is innocent and plans to mount a "vigorous defense," attorney Donald Etra said.

"She's led an impeccable life as a wonderful actress and humanitarian," Etra said.

Misdemeanor charges were filed by the city attorney Tuesday after the district attorney declined to file felony charges.

"We felt, based on the situation, based on her lack of prior record, it should go to the city attorney to determine whether they're going to file," district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said. "We felt that felony charges weren't warranted in this case."

The 66-year-old actress allegedly took $446.44 worth of jewelry from a Robinsons-May department store in West Los Angeles on April 23. Store security guards took her into custody and handed her over to police, who took her to jail. She was released after posting $20,000 bond, and an arraignment was scheduled for May 14.

Gibbons said felony cases usually involve property worth $1,000 or more.

Actress Winona Ryder was convicted last year of felony shoplifting for taking more than $5,500 worth of merchandise from a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills.

Morrison, whose given name is Rachel Mitrani, was born in New York City's borough of the Bronx. She is married to author Walter Dominguez, and was booked under the name Rachel Dominguez.

The actress also played Sister Sixto in the 1960s show "The Flying Nun" and has appeared in numerous movies.

'Will & Grace' Co-Star Pleads No Contest

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Will & Grace" actress Shelley Morrison, who plays the sassy maid Rosario Salazar on the NBC sitcom, pleaded no contest Wednesday to a misdemeanor theft charge relating to nearly $446 worth of shoplifted jewelry.

Morrison, 66, whose character is the maid of socialite Karen Walker (actress Megan Mullally) on the show, was sentenced to a year of probation and fined $300 by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Antonio Barreto Jr.

"Clearly, a mistake was made," her attorney, Donald Etra, told reporters after the hearing. "Ms. Morrison fessed up to that mistake and now she wishes to move forward."

"I think Ms. Morrison has certainly learned from this experience," he added. "She will never find herself in this situation again."

Morrison was arrested April 23 after security guards took her into custody when items were taken from a Robinsons-May department store in West Los Angeles.

Misdemeanor charges were filed by the city attorney after the district attorney declined to file felony charges because of the value of the items and Morrison's lack of a prior record.

Morrison, whose given name is Rachel Mitrani, was born in New York City's borough of the Bronx. She is married to author Walter Dominguez, and was booked under the name Rachel Dominguez.

The actress also played Sister Sixto in the 1960s show "The Flying Nun" and has appeared in numerous movies.