Stephen Baldwin’s unpaid taxes won’t result in a trip to prison.
The actor’s lawyer said recent tax problems aren’t going to land his client behind bars. Baldwin reportedly owes around $350,000 in back taxes .
Attorney Russell Yankwitt said Stephen Baldwin will have five years to pay his unpaid taxes. The Usual Suspects co-star was accused of not paying New York state income tax from 2008 to 2010.
Yankwitt said Baldwin previously relied on others for income. Although the actor is still having difficulty finding work, the attorney said Baldwin no longer needs help paying his bills.
“Mr. Baldwin is very appreciative he will not be incarcerated. He will pay back what he owes, and is looking forward to putting all of this behind him,” Yankwitt added.
The lawyer said Stephen Baldwin’s inability to pay his taxes is the result of the economy and the actor’s decision not to take roles which glorify drugs and violence.
“Mr. Baldwin is a faith-based actor, which makes it harder to get roles,” Yankwitt explained. “In the past he did movies that portrayed violence and drugs. He no longer does those types of movies.”
While work isn’t steady as it once was, Baldwin is reporting finding work in commercials and other projects.
The actor was arrested last December for tax evasion . At the time, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said the city couldn’t afford to let residents get away with tax evasion.
“The defendant’s repetitive failure to file returns and pay taxes over a period of several years contributes to the sweeping cutbacks and closures in local government and in our schools,” he added.
Stephen is the youngest of the four Baldwin brothers. His is best known for his role in X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer’s 1995 crime classic The Usual Suspects . Baldwin also appeared in Posse , Threesome , and Bio-Dome .
After starring in a number of direct-to-video movies, Baldwin decided to change direction. Instead of appearing in movies that conflicted with his beliefs, the actor began only accepting roles from faith-based produced. This reportedly led to his financial troubles.
Stephen Baldwin will appear in Steve Race’s 2013 drama I’m in Love with a Church Girl . In addition to Baldwin, the film also features Michael Madsen, Vincent Pastore, and The Karate Kid alum Martin Kove.
Although he still has to pay back a significant amount of money, Stephen Baldwin won’t spend any time in prison for not paying his taxes.
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