"Django Unchained" actress Daniele Watts, boyfriend charged with lewd conduct

An actress who suggested she was detained by Los Angeles police because of racial profiling after she was found in a parked car with her boyfriend last month has been charged with lewd conduct.

Daniele Watts, who appeared in "Django Unchained" and the TV series "Partners," and Brian Lucas each were charged Tuesday with misdemeanor counts that carry potential six-month jail terms.

An arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 13, according to CBS Los Angeles.

The charges stem from a September incident when Watts was handcuffed and detained after police say she refused to provide identification to officers investigating a report of lewd conduct in a parked car in Studio City.

Watts and Lucas, wrote about the incident on Facebook and posted photos of a crying Watts in handcuffs. At the time, Lucas said he suspected that onlookers assumed Watts to be a prostitute and him a client because she is black and he is white.

The 28-year-old was detained until police determined no crime was committed. Police said they followed proper protocol when they demanded identification from her and Lucas.

Watts said she and the 43-year-old Lucas were just kissing.

Speaking to CNN about the incident last month, Watts said she didn't offer her identification right away because she felt she hadn't done anything wrong and the officer didn't ask her for it directly. "I believe in America and what it stands for," she said.

"In my opinion, it's not a crime to be fully clothed, showing affection on a public street in our own car," Watts added. "It doesn't matter how passionately we were making out."

An email to Lucas sent through his website and an email to Watts' agent, Justin Baxter, were not immediately returned. Both are free pending arraignment.