LOS ANGELES — Actor Emile Hirsch has been charged with felony assault for having allegedly choked a female executive last month at the Sundance Film Festival, sources confirm to Variety.
The woman, Dani Bernfeld, works for Paramount Pictures as VP of Digital Entertainment. The incident took place Jan. 25 at Tao nightclub in Park City, Utah.
According to court documents, Bernfeld was approached by Hirsch at about 3:15 a.m. Hirsch appeared intoxicated, and asked why she looked “so tough” and said she was a “rich kid” who should not be at Sundance. He then grabbed Bernfeld, but she pushed him away and he left the area with some friends.
Shortly after, Hirsch came up to Bernfeld from behind and wrapped his arm around her to put her in a chokehold, say the documents. Hirsch pulled her across a table and onto the floor, where he landed on top of her. While on top of her, he wrapped his arms around her neck.
Bernfeld said she felt as though “the front and back of her throat were touching” and she remembers her vision going dark, reporting that she may have momentarily blacked out. Two bystanders pulled Hirsch off Bernfeld.
A spokesman tells Variety that Hirsch was arrested that morning.
Hirsh is being charged with aggravated assault, a third degree felony, and intoxication, a class C misdemeanor. A third degree felony is punishable by up to 5 years in the Utah State Prison.
The 29 year-old actor has starred in films including “Lone Survivor,” “Speed Racer” and “Into the Wild.”
TMZ first reported the story.