HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Sean Penn pleaded no contest Wednesday to misdemeanor vandalism stemming from an incident with the paparazzi last year, the Associated Press reports.
The 49-year-old actor was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. He must also undergo 36 hours of anger management counseling and stay 100 yards away from the photographer, Jordan Dawes.
"Prolonging this matter in the court system would not have been in Mr. Penn's best interests and would have distracted from his charitable commitments, specifically his work in Haiti," his attorney, Richard Hirsch, told AP. "Accordingly he has decided to accept the terms and move on."
A restitution hearing is scheduled for July 8.
Penn was facing up to 18 months in jail after prosecutors charged him with misdemeanor battery and vandalism in February. The charges stemmed from an incident last October when Penn and the cameraman got into an altercation near the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles. Penn was accused of kicking and hitting Dawes several times before leaving the scene.
Dawes has since filed a civil suit against Penn, which remains active.
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