By court order, actor Emile Hirsch will serve 15 days in jail, pay $4,750, and perform 50 hours of community service as punishment for his January 25 assault on Paramount producer Daniele Bernfeld that occurred at a party during the Sundance Film Festival. Bernfeld—understandably—is not happy with the light sentencing.
Page Six reports:
Issuing a statement detailing her ordeal at Hirsch’s hands, which was read in the court before the “Into The Wild” star was sentenced, Bernfeld said, “I was subjected to a violent and unprovoked attack by a complete stranger. The defendant, Emile Hirsch, put me in a chokehold, pulled me off my feet and threw me on the floor. With the full force of his weight, he choked me until I blacked out. It took two people to pull him off me, and if not for their intervention, the attack would have continued. I thought I was going to die.”
She continued, “This act of violence has greater implications than the physical injuries I sustained. The long-lasting effects of this assault will remain with me. Mr. Hirsch’s plea, however, provides that in 90 days his case will be dismissed without record. There is no assurance that he will serve any of the 15 days of jail time associated with his plea.
“Quite simply, this punishment does not fit the crime. While the Park City Police Department treated me with courtesy and respect, this plea deal meets the bare minimum required to placate the regulations of our legal system. If a violent attack in front of a roomful of witnesses can be labeled a misdemeanor and dismissed, what of women who are assaulted while alone in hallways or bathrooms, or behind the closed doors of their own homes.
“While I appreciate that the court is trying to send a message to Mr. Hirsch, the message to him and those who may follow needs to be louder and stronger.”
Hirsch claims he has no memory of the incident.