Wesley Snipes’ Attorneys to Appeal

By: Shannon Gossage

Snipes, 45, was convicted last week on three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file his income tax returned and was sentenced to three years behind bars. Snipes will reportedly remain free until the federal Bureau of Prisons orders him to surrender and begin serving his sentence. In February, he was acquitted of five other counts, two of which were felonies. A two-page filing was submitted to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday.

Snipes reportedly tried to avoid jail time by admitting his "costly mistakes," having family and friends write letters to the court attesting to his good character, and by writing $5 million in checks in unpaid taxes over the years. Prosecutors called it "grandstanding" and claimed Snipes was trying to avoid jail time. They also wanted to make an example out of the actor. Snipes reportedly has not filed a tax return since 1998 and allegedly made $13.8 million in the years since and owed about $2.7 million in back taxes. He will work with the IRS to determine the full tax liability including interest and any penalties.

Snipes did read from a written statement and said, "I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and fiancé." He also called himself "well intentioned, but miseducated." Snipes will appeal the case and is seeking to avoid jail time. Snipes has appeared in movies such as the Blade trilogy, Jungle Fever, White Men Can’t Jump, Waiting to Exhale, and U.S. Marshals.