By Brandon Nolta

It’s rare to see a high-profile actor involved in legal proceedings not stemming from drugs or alcohol, though it has happened (look up Fatty Arbuckle for a prime example). In the case of martial artist and action star Wesley Snipes, his high-visibility legal proceedings have a somewhat happy ending.

Mr. Snipes was acquitted February 1st of felony charges of tax fraud and conspiracy. He was convicted on three counts of failing to file tax returns, misdemeanor charges that carry a maximum sentence of one year in prison per count. Most analysts expect him to receive a far lighter sentence, so considering that he was looking at a possible 16 years behind bars if he had been convicted and given the maximum sentence all around, the verdict qualifies as something of a victory.

Snipes, best known for WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP, NEW JACK CITY, and killing hundreds of vampires in the BLADE trilogy, pled not guilty to all six original charges. He was tried along with two self-described tax protestors; both of the men—Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas Rosile—were convicted of tax fraud and conspiracy.