AFP, Boston :
Actress Felicity Huffman was sentenced Friday to 14 days in prison for paying to rig her daughter’s university entrance exams, a narrow victory for prosecutors in the college admissions case who wanted a heavier penalty but argued that some amount of time behind bars for Huffman and other wealthy parents can be “the only leveler” against their money and influence.
In ordering her to prison, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani rejected pleas from Huffman, 56, and her attorney that she be spared incarceration. The judge also ordered Huffman to pay a $30,000 fine and serve 250 hours of community service. After her two weeks in custody, Huffman must spend a year under the supervision of probation officials. “I accept the court’s decision today without reservation,” Huffman said in a written statement. “I broke the law. I have admitted that, and I pleaded guilty to this crime. There are no excuses or justifications for my actions. Period.” Huffman, who was accompanied in court by her husband, actor William H. Macy, added, “My hope now is that my family, my friends and my community will forgive me for my actions.” Macy was not charged in the scheme. Friday’s sentencing hearing in
Boston capped months of embarrassing scrutiny for the “Desperate Housewives” star, whose reputation in Hollywood as a down-to-earth anti-diva has been tarnished by the revelation she paid $15,000 to William “Rick” Singer, a college admissions consultant who preyed on his wealthy clients’ anxieties about getting their kids into top schools and their willingness to pay huge sums to access his illicit operation.
Actress Felicity Huffman was sentenced Friday to 14 days in prison for paying to rig her daughter’s university entrance exams, a narrow victory for prosecutors in the college admissions case who wanted a heavier penalty but argued that some amount of time behind bars for Huffman and other wealthy parents can be “the only leveler” against their money and influence.
In ordering her to prison, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani rejected pleas from Huffman, 56, and her attorney that she be spared incarceration. The judge also ordered Huffman to pay a $30,000 fine and serve 250 hours of community service. After her two weeks in custody, Huffman must spend a year under the supervision of probation officials. “I accept the court’s decision today without reservation,” Huffman said in a written statement. “I broke the law. I have admitted that, and I pleaded guilty to this crime. There are no excuses or justifications for my actions. Period.” Huffman, who was accompanied in court by her husband, actor William H. Macy, added, “My hope now is that my family, my friends and my community will forgive me for my actions.” Macy was not charged in the scheme. Friday’s sentencing hearing in
Boston capped months of embarrassing scrutiny for the “Desperate Housewives” star, whose reputation in Hollywood as a down-to-earth anti-diva has been tarnished by the revelation she paid $15,000 to William “Rick” Singer, a college admissions consultant who preyed on his wealthy clients’ anxieties about getting their kids into top schools and their willingness to pay huge sums to access his illicit operation.
