Stephen Baldwin apparently never heard the saying that nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes.
On Thursday, Dec. 6, the 46-year-old actor was arrested and charged with failing to file personal income tax returns for 2008, 2009, and 2010. He reportedly owes New York State more than $350,000.
"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 Country District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said. "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."
The Usual Suspects star, for his part, pled not guilty to the charges and was freed without bail. He's due back in court on Feb. 5 and could face up to four years in prison if convicted. But his lawyer, Russell Yankwitt, says he's innocent.
"Mr. Baldwin did not commit any crimes, and he's working with the district attorney's office and the New York State Tax Department to resolve any differences," Yankwitt said of the youngest Baldwin brother.
This is not the first time the actor has had trouble with the law this year. In October, he pled guilty to an unlicensed driving charge in Manhattan, for which he paid a $75 fine. And in July, he lost a $17 million lawsuit against Kevin Costner after claiming that the Hatfields & McCoys actor had cheated him out of money in a deal for oil-cleaning machines after the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico spill.
