BENDIS!
04-23-2008, 11:42 AM
Support for Snipes from Denzel, Woody, Judge Joe Brown
By Anthony Violanti
Star-Banner
Published: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.
Connected Items:
Snipes memo to judge cites probation as 'just punishment'
Related Media:
Snipes Character Reference Letters
OCALA -- Denzel Washington compares Wesley Snipes to a mighty oak tree.
Woody Harrelson views Snipes as a citizen of the world.
Judge Joe Brown casts Snipes as a life traveler serving his fellow man.
It seems hard to believe that a two-fisted, sexy, gun-toting Hollywood action star sounds like a cross between Gandhi and the Mother Teresa.
But, sometimes, that's what it takes to beat doing hard time for a federal tax rap.
Thursday is the first day of the rest of Snipes' legal life, and he needs enough character references to impress Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges into going easy. An Ocala jury in February found the famed actor guilty of three counts of willfully failing to file tax returns. Snipes faces up to three years in federal prison and $5 million or more in fines.
One thing's for sure: Snipes isn't in New Jack City anymore.
This is Ocala and Snipes needs all the help he can get in this sentencing drama. That's where his famous and non-famous friends come in to the picture. They are trying to sway the judge with character references that may help determine if Snipes leaves the Marion County Judicial Center in handcuffs or a limousine. Thirty-one character references were submitted by Snipes' legal team.
Denzel Washington, the Academy Award winning actor, writes that he has known Snipes for 20 years.
"Wesley is like a tree -- a mighty oak. ... Many who know him have witnessed the fruit of his labors, have sat in his shade and even been protected by his presence. I am proud of him, proud to call him a fellow thespian and most importantly, proud to call him a friend."
Actor Woody Harrelson has also known Snipes for more than two decades. He praised Snipes for helping diffuse a tense racial situation with Harrelson and a mostly black cast on the set of the movie "Wildcats."
"Wes took the time to discuss and dissect the issue of racism. ... He strives for rightness in all his relations and I realized early on what a true citizen of the world Wes is. ... it is an honor to call Wes my brother."
TV Judge Joe Brown waxed eloquent about Snipes' humanity, sometimes sounding as if he were writing a law book. Brown repeatedly referred to the actor as "Dr. Snipes," and wrote the actor is: "a traveler on that narrow path traversed by persons who look at the journey through life as an opportunity to deliver service to their fellow man."
Brown admits Snipes has a weakness:
"He means well, but has yet to learn that his dedication and good purpose are not as universal with others as he tends to believe; a fault served up by a basic soundness and goodness of his heart."
Anthony Violanti can be reached at anthony.violanti@starbanner.com or 352-867-4154.
By Anthony Violanti
Star-Banner
Published: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.
Connected Items:
Snipes memo to judge cites probation as 'just punishment'
Related Media:
Snipes Character Reference Letters
OCALA -- Denzel Washington compares Wesley Snipes to a mighty oak tree.
Woody Harrelson views Snipes as a citizen of the world.
Judge Joe Brown casts Snipes as a life traveler serving his fellow man.
It seems hard to believe that a two-fisted, sexy, gun-toting Hollywood action star sounds like a cross between Gandhi and the Mother Teresa.
But, sometimes, that's what it takes to beat doing hard time for a federal tax rap.
Thursday is the first day of the rest of Snipes' legal life, and he needs enough character references to impress Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges into going easy. An Ocala jury in February found the famed actor guilty of three counts of willfully failing to file tax returns. Snipes faces up to three years in federal prison and $5 million or more in fines.
One thing's for sure: Snipes isn't in New Jack City anymore.
This is Ocala and Snipes needs all the help he can get in this sentencing drama. That's where his famous and non-famous friends come in to the picture. They are trying to sway the judge with character references that may help determine if Snipes leaves the Marion County Judicial Center in handcuffs or a limousine. Thirty-one character references were submitted by Snipes' legal team.
Denzel Washington, the Academy Award winning actor, writes that he has known Snipes for 20 years.
"Wesley is like a tree -- a mighty oak. ... Many who know him have witnessed the fruit of his labors, have sat in his shade and even been protected by his presence. I am proud of him, proud to call him a fellow thespian and most importantly, proud to call him a friend."
Actor Woody Harrelson has also known Snipes for more than two decades. He praised Snipes for helping diffuse a tense racial situation with Harrelson and a mostly black cast on the set of the movie "Wildcats."
"Wes took the time to discuss and dissect the issue of racism. ... He strives for rightness in all his relations and I realized early on what a true citizen of the world Wes is. ... it is an honor to call Wes my brother."
TV Judge Joe Brown waxed eloquent about Snipes' humanity, sometimes sounding as if he were writing a law book. Brown repeatedly referred to the actor as "Dr. Snipes," and wrote the actor is: "a traveler on that narrow path traversed by persons who look at the journey through life as an opportunity to deliver service to their fellow man."
Brown admits Snipes has a weakness:
"He means well, but has yet to learn that his dedication and good purpose are not as universal with others as he tends to believe; a fault served up by a basic soundness and goodness of his heart."
Anthony Violanti can be reached at anthony.violanti@starbanner.com or 352-867-4154.