She was in. She was out. Quicker than Lindsay Lohan can down a bottle of Grey Goose, Nicole Richie served her jail sentence.

While the rest of the world was focused on Lindsay’s plea bargaining, Nicole quietly slipped in and out of Lynwood’s women’s facility. She checked in at 3:15 pm today and checked out at 4:37 pm.

According to a statement from the LA County Sheriff’s Department:

On August 23 2007, at 3:15 PM Miss Nicole Camille Richie reported to CRDF and surrendered herself following a July 27 arrest, she was sentenced to serve 96 hours in County Jail. Miss Richie was accompanied by her attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley and her boyfriend Joel Madden. Miss Richie was booked and processed into the jail system. Miss Richie was cooperative during the process. Based on her sentence and federal court guidelines, Miss Richie was released at 4:37 PM today.

Lohan was handed down a bullshit sentence today, too — she’ll only serve a day in jail, as well.

Looks like Paris Hilton served the jail time for everybody.

While all eyes were on Lindsay Lohan’s plea deal, a pregnant Nicole checked into Lynwood — where Paris did her time — at 3:15 pm today. Nicole is supposed to serve four days, but will likely go home early because of overcrowding. I’m not sure why she checked in during the afternoon — she could have checked in at 11:59pm and had it count as a full day. Maybe she was worried about the lines being long, who knows?

We’ll have more details as they come.

Thank you, Nicole!

Rumors are swirling that Joel Madden proposed last week. This would be the second time Nicole’s been engaged — the first time was to DJ AM.

From Page Six:

NICOLE Richie knows how rumors get started, so she’s nipping in the bud any chance of wicked whispers about her and boyfriend Joel Madden being on the outs. Wednesday night, Madden went to celebrate the first anniversary of the Village Pourhouse on Third Avenue, and all was well until a party promoter wanted to take a picture of him with a cute young woman. Our spy reports, “He said he couldn’t, as Nicole gave him strict orders not to take pictures with other celebrities or girls for rumor purposes.”

Oh, silly, silly Nicole. Clearly you don’t know me. If I want to say you and Joel are on the outs, I’ll do it whether or not I have a picture to prove it.

Truth be told, I think these two will be together at least until this kid’s two or so. They were spotted yesterday apartment-hunting in NYC.

Spotted: A pregnant Nicole Richie — wearing a loose black top — and baby daddy Joel Madden, at Trash & Vaudeville in NYC’s East Village.

See, people? When you actually want the paparazzi to leave you alone, it’s super easy. You just avoid the ten places in the whole world that they camp out. There are no paparazzi in the East Village. Props to Nicole for actually getting the hell out of LA to maintain some privacy during this time.

It’s here!!! We finally get to see it!!! THE BABY BUMP!!!

Check out the roots, too. She’s not getting her hair dyed, as preggers women are discouraged from doing that.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nicole Richie wants to do her time in the Los Angeles County jail. Richie’s lawyer contacted the county Sheriff’s Department earlier this week and indicated the reality TV star wanted to serve her four-day sentence in county lockup rather than a city jail, sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said Thursday.

See, this is planning. You’ve got to own your surroundings people. County jail = good, city jail = bad. It’s the same thing with mice actually.

The only odd thing is:

Richie was ordered to spend 90 hours, either in county jail or at any city jail in the county that would accept her.

It’s only 90 hours, three and a half days, how bad could city jail be? Also, given the language of that order I would just build my own jail and have it accept me. My jail would have a dolphin tank if that helps you get the vibe of what my jail would be all about.