Sean Penn Gets Probation for Kicking Photographer

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted May 12th 2010 05:19PM

Sean Penn pleaded no contest to vandalism on Wednesday, effectively ending a case in which the Oscar-winning actor was videotaped kicking a celebrity photographer. Penn was not present in court and entered the plea through his attorney. He was sentenced to three years of informal probation and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service, said city attorney's spokesman Frank Mateljan.

Mateljan says those hours can be completed through Penn's earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti.

He was also ordered to undergo 36 hours of anger management counseling and stay 100 yards away from the photographer.

Penn was charged in February with misdemeanor battery and vandalism for the October dustup and faced up to 18 months in jail if convicted.

"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," Penn's attorney Richard Hirsch said. "Accordingly he has decided to accept the terms and move on."

If he completes the terms of his sentence, Penn will be allowed to reduce the charge to disturbing the peace.

Mateljan said a restitution hearing for the photographer will be held July 8. The photographer, Jordan Dawes, has sued Penn in civil court. That case remains active.

Penn, 49, has won two best actor Oscars for roles in "Mystic River" and "Milk." He has made a major humanitarian push in Haiti since the country was devastated by an earthquake in January, co-founding the Jenkins-Penn Haiti Relief Organization.

The group provide medical care, water filters and food and has opened a health clinic for mothers and victims of a growing sexual assault epidemic.

Until the recent case, the actor has remained out of trouble after several run-ins with photographers and the law in the 1980s.

Tags: sean penn

Comments

(34)

Wednesday 12 May

By Candy

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Just why does the media keep picking on him?

By Rick

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Because he's a PUNK!

By Anne

because he is a dirtbag.

Friday 14 May

By Dayjur

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I hope he kicked him in the nuts.

By billy

Sean
is a good bloke.
he has serious anger mental problems....

he needs meds and help.

oh trust me i would tell him that with respect to his face.

hes a good bloke.

By pnut166

And I`d tell him what an ungrateful, delusional POS he is to his face

By knuck

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

a real good bloke that likes to beat the hell out of women, and photogs

By DJ

They should have thrown away the key on this piece of trash.

By thelawman3026

He has a very large ego, thinks the normal rules do not apply to him, he's rich but that doesnt make him smart, not in the least far from it and never will be,

By themeeker

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As long as he was being punished anyway, he should have inflicted some real damage to the whining little vulture.

By Protea

Large ego to go with the little man image. He is a bully and a brute as well. He gets away with it as he is so called famous and does good works. Well the good works do not cancel the bad behavior. Had it been me or you we would be locked up for the three years and fined as well. Give him a few months and he will be abusive to someone else again.

By Zero

He's a meat puppet.

By doc

oohhh... know we know why he's in haiti, it wont take long to ring up those 300 hours there will it?

By David

To punt166
You are a liar, I would like you to say that to my face and se what happens you pussey

By Wendell

David,

If you fight like you spell, you shouldn't call people out.

Thursday 13 May

By mark

david, wendell is right.

By R.J

When are they going to make some laws on this out of control media. When they can climb up in trees and take photos of you threw your window . Stick camaras in your face when you ask them not to. Write bullsht stories that they no are not true. Its time some one steps up to the plate and takes A hard look at this.

By darth

no one is climbing any trees to take pics of sean penn. the photographers that snap pics of him and others like him are walking backwards risking their lives staying usually 6 or 10 feet away taking pics of celebs that wouldnt be nearly as huge as they are if not for the media attention theyre getting thru the tabloids and other magazines where such photos are published. u may not buy these mags but people do. dont get into the business if u cant handle the entire mess that goes with it. dont expect to be a multi millionaire and not have your face known by millions & millions because of photos that the paparrazi take on the streets of ny and la etc. when theyre nobodies they are desperate for the attention. now that theyre huge names they want to be left alone. sorry it doesnt work that way. photogs are not vultures-theyre providing a service and earning a living like anyone else. the law says if u are in a public place or can be seen from a public place u do not have the expectation of privacy. to presume u do is ignorant. especially if u are a giant star. just look at this news story. u are reading it because u like the gossip. that goes along with images. those images are usually taken by the photogs that u are putting down. wake up.

By Lisa

He's homely, not a very good actor and has a horrible personality. Why would anyone would to follow him or watch him or be anywhere near him?

By fastmankw

Maybe he can help chavez or castro some more ?

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