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Emile Hirsch returned to Park City for a court appearance today in the case alleging that he put a female Paramount executive in a chokehold during the Sundance Film Festival in January. It was an otherwise uneventful court appearance except for the fact that we're left with a very formal mug shot from the actor. Hirsch suited up and was clean-shaven for today's court appearance. He's facing felony assault charges and a misdemeanor count of intoxication stemming from the alleged assault on January 25 in Tao Nightclub in Park City, Utah. He could get up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted, according to TMZ. During today's hearing, a status conference was set for April 13. Since the alleged assault, Hirsch has checked into rehab.
The alleged assault happened around 4 a.m. Witnesses said Hirsch was drunk and got into an argument with Paramount executive Danielle Bernfeld, asking her "why she looked 'so tough' and said she was a 'rich kid' who should not be at Sundance." Bernfeld says that she briefly blacked out after Hirsch put her in a chokehold, and that Bernfeld had red marks on her neck and upper chest after the incident.
