LOS ANGELES – Film star Sean Penn yesterday pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour charge stemming from an altercation with a photographer last year and was sentenced to community service and anger management counselling.
The Oscar-winning actor, who has famously sparred with paparazzi throughout his career, pleaded no contest to a single count of misdemeanour vandalism in the case in which he was accused of kicking a photographer and breaking his camera.
A judge ordered Penn (49), who was not in court for the hearing, to perform 300 hours of community service and undergo 36 hours of anger management counselling.
He was also ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from the photographer and could be ordered to pay restitution at a hearing set for July 8th.
A count of misdemeanour battery was dismissed as a result of his plea.
The case stems from a clash between Penn and the photographer at a shopping centre in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles last October.
The actor, who won best actor Oscars for his roles in Mystic Riverand the 2008 movie Milk, faced a possible 18 months behind bars if he had been convicted at trial.
Penn has long been an adversary of the paparazzi and is well-known for allowing his temper to flare. In 1987 he served more than 30 days in jail for assaulting an extra on a film set. He also faced a domestic assault complaint during his marriage to pop star Madonna, which ended in divorce in 1989. – (Reuters)