Sofia Alvarez Entertainment Editor — Culture critic with bylines in Variety and Rolling Stone
Argentine actor and director Maxi Ghione has been released from custody following a weapons arrest and subsequent court hearing in Rafaela, though he remains under formal investigation. In a video shared on Instagram after regaining his freedom, the 53-year-old artist opened up about the personal fallout from the legal case, revealing, All of this that I am going through caused me to lose the woman I love
.
Legal Proceedings and Conditions of Release
Ghione had been taken into custody on September 29 by the Investigative Police (PDI) at his residence in Lehmann, a locality in the province of Santa Fe where he has lived since late 2024. Following a hearing in Rafaela on October 2, prosecutor Cecilia Doro confirmed that the actor was formally charged with threats and firearms possession (Infobae, Vía País). Meanwhile, the separate allegation of unlawful deprivation of liberty remains under ongoing analysis by the Public Ministry of the Accusation (La Nación, Vía País).
The court determined that Ghione could continue the judicial process outside of prison due to his lack of prior criminal convictions (Vía País). However, his release is contingent upon strict conditions agreed upon during the hearing (Vía País). According to terms reported by Vía País, the artist must:
- Fix his legal residence in Lehmann.
- Maintain a strict prohibition on contacting the complainant, Emiliano Tarragona, as well as any witnesses in the case.
- Refrain from possessing or carrying firearms while the investigation remains active.
- Report to the local police station every 15 days.
The Origin of the Investigation
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by 43-year-old escort Emiliano Tarragona, who dialed the 911 emergency response center on September 27 (La Nación, Vía País). Tarragona stated that he went to Ghione’s Lehmann home on September 20 after being hired for an encounter (La Nación,
Infobae
).
According to the complainant’s statement, an intended one-hour arrangement extended to roughly five hours, during which the actor allegedly displayed two firearms and prevented him from leaving (
Infobae
, Vía País). Tarragona further claimed that subsequent payment disputes led to text messages carrying phrases he interpreted as intimidating, prompting him to seek judicial intervention out of fear.
Ghione Defends Seized Firearms as Legal Collection
During the search of Ghione’s residence, investigators seized multiple firearms. Addressing the seized weaponry in his social media address, the actor defended his collection, asserting that he is a registered firearms collector who practices shooting at a polygon and holds honorary membership at the Tiro Federal de San Fernando (
Infobae
).
Anyone who enters my house is going to see weapons everywhere, because I am a gun collector, because I have all my paperwork in order,
Ghione stated, adding that the items are family heirlooms [
Infobae
]. His defense attorney, Juan Manuel Lovaiza, noted that unlawful deprivation of liberty was omitted from the initial formal charges while the investigation proceeds (Vía País).
As the prosecution continues gathering evidence and awaiting forensic results from the seized cell phone and firearms, it remains undetermined whether prosecutors will ultimately expand the charges to include illegal detention, and how the court will rule on the authenticity of the text messages submitted in the case (Vía País).