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Snipes sentenced to three years | Snipes sentenced to three years |
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Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes has received a three year prison sentence for tax offences. | Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes has received a three year prison sentence for tax offences. |
A federal judge handed down the maximum term requested by prosecutors - one year for each of Snipes' convictions of wilfully failing to file a tax return. | A federal judge handed down the maximum term requested by prosecutors - one year for each of Snipes' convictions of wilfully failing to file a tax return. |
Snipes' lawyers had called for leniency, arguing that the offences were misdemeanours and that the star was of good character. | Snipes' lawyers had called for leniency, arguing that the offences were misdemeanours and that the star was of good character. |
But prosecutors said an example should be set because of Snipes' fame. | But prosecutors said an example should be set because of Snipes' fame. |
In February, Snipes was found guilty of deliberately failing to file tax returns for 1999, 2000 and 2001, but was cleared of more serious fraud and conspiracy charges. | |
'Serious crimes' | |
United States District Judge William Terrell Hodges said the action star had shown a "history of contempt over a period of time" for US tax laws. | |
"In my mind these are serious crimes, albeit misdemeanours", he said. | |
Snipes apologised, saying: "I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and finance." | |
The star of films such as "Blade 3" and "Demolition Man" had asked for probation instead of imprisonment. | |
Fellow actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington sent letters as character witnesses, as did family, friends and employees. | |
The actor's first role was in Goldie Hawn's 1986 American football comedy Wildcats, and he has also appeared in hit films such as White Men Can't Jump, and Passenger 57. |