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Just a day after Emile Hirsch was charged with felony assault for allegedly attacking a woman at the Sundance Film Festival last month, his representative has announced that the Milk actor has since been spending time at an alcohol rehabilitation facility getting help.
Hirsch's spokesperson, Robert Offer, told TMZ, "Emile consumed an enormous amount of alcohol on the evening in question and he has no memory of what happened."
Offer added, "Emile takes these allegations very seriously, and is devastated that any of this has occurred. A few days after the incident, Emile sought help and checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation facility, where he remains today, to ensure nothing like this ever happens again."
The allegations against Hirsch stem from a Jan. 24 incident at a party at the Tao Nightclub in Park City, Utah. A Paramount executive, Dani Bernfeld, told police that Hirsch appeared to be drunk that night and told her that she was a "rich kid" who didn't belong at Sundance. When she walked away, Hirsch put her in a chokehold until she blacked out and dragged her across the table and onto the floor, according to Bernfeld.
Two bystanders had to pull Hirsch off of Bernfeld. Authorities arrived and they said that Hirsch looked drunk, and that Bernfeld's neck and chest looked reddish.
Hirsch is charged with third degree felony aggravated assault, and could face up to five years in prison if convicted. He's expected to appear in the Summit County courtroom on March 16.
