Stephen Baldwin Will Plead Guilty to Avoid Jail Time, Lawyer Says

Actor and Upper Grandview resident Stephen Baldwin—arrested late last year when accused of not paying income taxes—is slated to plead guilty to the felony charge, his 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.

Yankwitt said the actor will 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.

"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.

A court conference in New City today was to discuss a possible disposition of Baldwin's case, but no action was taken. The case is next scheduled in court on March 29, before Judge Charles Apotheker in New City.