The story of Christopher McCandless heading into the Alaskan wilderness and living off the land is a very popular one, his adventures inspiring many – until he ate those ill-fated berries and it all went very wrong very quickly.

Emile Hirsch is also seeing things go rather wrong after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanour assault charges and was sentenced to 15 days in prison, a $4 750 fine and 50 hours of community service. The incident took place at a Sundance Film Festival party on January 25 of this year, Hirsch getting Paramount studio executive Daniele Bernfeld in a chokehold while hammered. Below from Gawker:

…according to police, Hirsch attacked Bernfield after drunkenly confronting her at a Sundance party and asking “why she looked ‘so tough’” He also reportedly told her “she was a ‘rich kid’ who should not be at Sundance”…

Bernfeld told police … she moved away from Hirsch to go sit with a friend at a table — and moments later, Hirsch came up from behind her and “put her in a chokehold.”

Then, Bernfeld claims Hirsch “pulled her across the table and onto the floor” and landed on top of her.

While on top, he allegedly wrapped his hands around her neck and began to choke her. She said she felt as though “the front and back of her throat were touching and she remembers things going dark.”

Hirsch checked himself into rehab shortly after the incident and apologised in court, although that did not appease Bernfield. She prepared a statement asking for stiff punishment and has, in the past, spoken of how she feared for her life during the attack.

If Emile thought the Alaskan wilderness was unforgiving he should wait until he heads to the slammer. That being said he will probably spend his time in the celebrity wing, alongside other offenders who are deemed better than the general population.

[source:gawker]