Shock as Hollywood actor charged with choking woman in nightclub

Last month it was reported that actor Emile Hirsch had been questioned by police after getting into an altercation in a nightclub, but now some altogether more sinister details have emerged.

The Into the Wild star was attending a Sundance Film Festival after-party when he reportedly assaulted a female film executive while extremely drunk in Utah's TAO nightclub. Emile has now been charged with felony assault for the incident.

The actor allegedly put the woman, Paramount exec Daniele Bernfeld, in a chokehold after verbally abusing her.

According to gossip site TMZ, Emile "appeared intoxicated and asked Daniele why she looked so tough" before telling her "she was a rich kid who should not be at Sundance."

Daniele told police that she then walked away from the actor, but a few minutes later he came up behind her and choked her, pulling her across a table and sitting on top of her. She told police that she felt as if "the front and back of her throat were touching and she remembers things going dark."

It look two people to pull Emile away, and police noted that he looked extremely intoxicated with glassy eyes and slurred speech.

A rep for the actor made a statement last night to say that Emile was "devastated" by the incident and that he cannot recall any of it. "Emile consumed an enormous amount of alcohol on the evening in question and he has no memory of what happened," said the spokesperson.

The 29-year-old checked himself into rehab just days after the incident, his rep added. "Emile takes these allegations very seriously, and is devastated that any of this has occurred. A few days after the incident, Emile sought help and checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation facility, where he remains today, to ensure nothing like this ever happens again." 

If found guilty of felony assault, the actor could end up behind bars for up to five years.