Actor gets deferred plea in tax evasion case
By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer
Comedian and actor Rodney Villanueva, 55, avoided prison time when a judge on Monday accepted his deferred plea in a state tax evasion case.
Villanueva was charged last year with nine counts of failure to file income and general excise tax returns from 2002 to 2006 and a single count of making a false statement to tax authorities.
He entered a plea of no contest in September. On Monday, Circuit Judge Randal Lee agreed to defer acceptance of the plea for five years.
A deferred plea reults in no ccriminal record for the defendant if he stays arrest-free for a specified period of time.
Lee ordered Villanueva to pay restitution of $14,706 and fines of $5,500.
Lee also ordered Villanueva to perform 200 hours of community service.