Lori Loughlinhas been paying close attention to the14-day jail sentenceofFelicity Huffman— and even tried to reach out to her fellow actress to discuss it, a source close to theFull Housestar tells PEOPLE.
“She wanted to encourage her, and see how she was doing,” the source says. “She feels like their fates are tied together now, even though they weren’t really friends before.”
Huffman, 56,reported to prisonon Tuesday. According to the source, Loughlin, 55, wants to see how Huffman deals with her time behind bars. “She wants to debrief Felicity after jail to find out what it was like and what her advice would be,” says the source. “She feels like Felicity’s time in jail will be an indicator on her own time, and she’s extremely curious to know how it goes.”
Felicity Huffman.Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty
The source continues: “She’s definitely hoping that Felicity’s time in prison will go easy for her, because that will be a positive sign that, if Lori has to serve time, that she’ll be able to weather it as well. Of course, it’s still very important for her to be exonerated of all charges against her. She still maintains her innocence, and hopes it won’t come to that. But if she does end up serving time in prison, she wants to know what she’s getting into.”
On March 12, the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts indicted Huffman, Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli in the shocking nationwide scam dubbed Operation Varsity Blues.Nearly 50 other parents, coaches, exam proctors and admissions counselors are accused of actions such as paying for boosted SAT scores and lying about students’ athletic skills in order to gain them acceptance to elite colleges including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford.
Loughlin and Giannulli allegedly paid $500,000 to Singer to falsely designate daughters Olivia Jade Giannulli, 19, and Isabella Rose Giannulli, 20, as recruits to the University of Southern California crew team, though neither actuallyparticipated in the sport.
RELATED VIDEO: Lori Loughlin ‘Is Remorseful’ and ‘Has Definite Regrets’ Amid College Admissions Scandal: Source
Steven Senne/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Huffmanpleaded guiltyin May, and wassentenced to 14 days in jail. Additionally, a judge fined theDesperate Housewivesactress $30,000 and said she would be on supervised release for one year. She will also have to do 250 hours of community service.
Loughlin and Giannullideclined a plea dealand await trial.
Loughlin’s rep told PEOPLE the actresses did not connect before Huffman reported to jail.
source: people.com
