FILMMAKER JAMES JAILED FOR A YEAR
Musician-turned-filmmaker ELGIN JAMES has been sentenced to a year behind bars for his part in an extortion attempt.
The director was handed the sentence this week (beg07Mar11) after pleading guilty to a charge of attempted extortion in relation to a musician from Chicago, Illinois who claims he was ordered to pay $5,000 (£3,333) to stop beatings from a street gang with links to James.
More than 60 letters of support for James were sent to a judge in charge of the case, including a note from Hollywood star Robert Redford, who recently showed James’ Little Birds movie at his Sundance Film Festival.
Redford wrote, "I believe that Elgin has the potential to make a difference. He has an important message for people of all ages and the possibility of change (and) the power of nonviolence." The sentence comes just days after James was awarded a major Hollywood contract to write a new movie called Low Riders. He will remain attached to the project while he serves his time in prison, according to Deadline.com.
James said after sentencing, "Today I faced my day of reckoning… I have accepted responsibility for my past, and I am now looking forward to continuing my film career."
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
