The 48-year-old former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies star and two others are accused of trying to lease high-end vehicles from several area dealerships by allegedly providing false information and claiming they had credit through a phony business called Home Free Systems.
The two other men charged in the auto fraud case are 27-year-old Robert Hymers and 30-year-old Christopher Gavanis.
In addition, Dykstra and Hymers allegedly used the credit information of another man, who they claimed was a co-signer, without that person's knowledge.
Authorities said Dykstra, Hymers and Gavanis were able to drive off with cars from at least one company.
This is the latest round of trouble for the ex-baseball star. He was also arrested in April, and later during a search of his Encino home, detectives found drugs including cocaine and a synthetic human-growth hormone.
Dykstra is charged with eight counts of filing false financial statements, five counts of attempted grand theft auto, four counts of identity theft and three counts each of grand theft auto and possession of a controlled substance. All of those charges are felonies.
He is also charged with one misdemeanor count each of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and unauthorized possession of a syringe.
Hymers is charged with 17 felony counts, including grand theft auto and identity theft, while Gavanis is charged with six felony counts, including grand theft auto and false financial statements.
Friday's court appearance was supposed to be a bail review hearing for Dykstra. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail, and his attorney will attempt to have that bail reduced.
As a member of the 1986 World Champion Mets, Dykstra was one of major league baseball's biggest stars. He was a standout outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets. Then after retiring, he became a local entrepreneur as the owner of a carwash and other local businesses.
If convicted, Dykstra faces up to 12 years in state prison.
His next court appearance is set for June 16.
