Politics & Government

White Plains Lawyer: Stephen Baldwin Will Plead Guilty

Actor and Rockland resident is expected to plead guilty to a tax-related felony to avoid jail time.

Actor and Rockland County resident Stephen Baldwin—arrested late last year when accused of not paying income taxes—is slated to plead guilty to the felony charge, his White Plains lawyer told Patch today.

Baldwin's admission to the single charge will keep him out of prison.

"He will not be going to jail," said Russell Yankwitt, Baldwin's attorney. Baldwin was originally facing up to four years in prison.

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Yankwitt said the actor will enter his plea sometime later this month.

Baldwin, 46, was accused of failing to file New York State Personal Income Tax Returns for years 2008, 2009 and 2010. In total, Baldwin’s tax liability to the State of New York, including penalties and interests, is more than $350,000.

Find out what's happening in White Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"At a time when Rockland County and New York State face severe fiscal shortfalls, we cannot afford to allow wealthy residents to break the law by cheating on their taxes," Rockland County's District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said when Baldwin was initially arrested.

Baldwin's arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Baldwin was arraigned in Nyack Village Court.


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