Sean Penn sentenced to probation for incident with photographer

LOS ANGELES — Sean Penn was sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to perform 300
hours of community service after settling allegations involving a
dispute with a photographer last year in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood.

The Los Angeles city attorney brought vandalism charges against Penn over the incident, which was caught on tape.

Penn on Wednesday pleaded no contest.

The video shows a bearded Penn, dressed in a black
shirt and dark pants, striding toward the photographer and kicking at
him a few times while repeatedly shouting, “Get out!” The photographer
backs up as Penn kicks at him, the video shows.

Penn on several occasions has voiced his disgust at the paparazzi who follow Hollywood celebrities. The actor-director, who won best actor Oscars for “Milk” and “Mystic River,” was known in his younger days for his clashes with paparazzi.

In 1987, he was sentenced to 60 days in jail for
striking a movie extra who took photographs of him on the film set of
the police drama “Colors.” Penn punched the man in the face several
times with a closed fist and had to be pulled off and restrained by
members of the crew and cast, officials said.

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