Wesley Snipes Denied Emergency Relief by Judge, Ordered to Go to Jail

Instead of a "ho-ho-ho," actor Wesley Snipes got a "no, no, no" this holiday season from U.S. District Court Judge William Terrell Hodges. Last week, Snipes filed an emergency petition with the court, asking if he could report to prison after the holidays rather than before, citing the difficulties that reporting on time to serve out his sentence would have on his children.

Judge Hodges denied Snipes' request this week, writing that Snipes had plenty of time to prepare "for the impact that his incarceration will have upon members of his family." Snipes was initially found guilty nearly three years ago and was sentenced to federal prison a few months later. He has been out of prison since, exhausting a number of appeals.

Snipes is slated to begin a three-year sentence for willful failure to file tax returns. Under the terms of his current Order, Snipes must surrender to McKean Federal Prison in Pennsylvania on Thursday, December 9, 2010.