FELICITY FINALLY IS FREED
2-week stint ends early
Actress Felicity Huffman closed the curtain on her two-week prison sentence Friday, two days ahead of schedule.
The “Desperate Housewives” star who admitted paying $15,000 to rig her daughter’s SAT score walked out of her low-security lockup in northern California after only 11 days behind bars.
She was expected to complete her 14-day sentence on Sunday but got bounced ahead of time under a policy that grants early release before weekends and legal holidays, federal prison officials said in a statement to the Daily News.
The Emmy winner and Oscar nominee started her prison term at the low-security correctional facility in Dublin, east of San Francisco, on Oct. 15.
She already had a day of credit for her time in custody when she was arrested March 12 along with dozens of others linked to the nationwide college admissions bribery scandal.
“She will be looked at by some as getting a celebrity pass, but most people are going to see that overall, she paid her dues,” Eric Schiffer, chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, told The News Friday.
“Felicity will absolutely get her career back,” he said. “I think she’ll likely fall into a story-line like Martha Stewart, who had problems and went to prison but shared her vulnerability and ultimately attracted a more diverse audience.”
For Huffman, her conviction showed her “complexity” — her weakness but also her willingness to accept consequences and grow, he said.
“She now can play far darker roles,” Schiffer argued. “And with her bigger brand awareness, she’s attractive to producers. You’re going to see an avalanche of attention on her next project. Her maiden red carpet will be all about redemption.”
Huffman, who’s married to actor William H. Macy, expressed deep regret for her crime when she was sentenced in September.
“I can promise you that in the months and years to come that I will try and live a more honest life, serve as a better role model for my daughters and family and continue to contribute my time and energies wherever I am needed,” Huffman said.
Now that’s she out, Huffman can move on to completing the 250 hours of community service and year of probation handed down by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani.
Huffman was the first to be sentenced in the group of parents who took early plea deals in the case.
“Full House” actress Lori Loughlin has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud, money laundering and bribery.
Prosecutors claim she and her fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli paid a total of $500,000 to get their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as fake rowing recruits.