Our Los Angeles County battery defense attorneys wrote a few months ago about the battery case against actor Sean Penn. Penn, an award-winning actor known for his short temper with the paparazzi, was charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor vandalism for a confrontation he had with a photographer. The incident was widely reported in the celebrity press and could have led to up to 18 months in jail for Penn. Rather than fight the charges, Penn pleaded no contest May 12 to misdemeanor vandalism, People magazine reported. He was sentenced to three years of probation and 36 hours of anger management classes, as well as 300 hours of community service.
The incident took place outside the Brentwood Country Market, in a wealthy neighborhood of Los Angeles. In the video, Penn can be seen walking quickly toward the photographer and kicking at him. It's unclear whether the kicks connected, but the photographer claimed he suffered physical harm and damage to his camera. Reports said Penn can be heard ordering the photographer to "get the [expletive] out!" The penalty of three years of probation means Penn must avoid any similar incidents or risk time in jail. This has historically been difficult for the actor, who has a previous misdemeanor conviction for assaulting a paparazzo as well as a misdemeanor domestic assault conviction. Penn is also known for his social activism, and the article said his 300 hours of community service can be performed through his relief organization for Haitian earthquake victims.
As Newport Beach battery criminal defense lawyers, we're pleased to see that the battery charge against Penn has disappeared. In our previous post, we wrote that it wasn't clear whether Penn's kicks ever connected with the photographer, which is necessary to support a charge of battery in California. (By contrast, Penn could have been charged with assault, which requires no physical contact.) It's also not clear from the video whether Penn connected with the camera, causing the alleged vandalism. But that charge was the less serious of the two, making it a clear choice for a plea bargain. Misdemeanor vandalism carries up to a year in jail, fines and cleanup or restitution charges, so three years of probation is a relatively light sentence. A hearing June 8 will determine whether and how much Penn will pay in restitution, presumably for the damage to the camera.
Even if you're not a movie star, you need experienced representation if you're accused of a violent crime like battery. Howard Law, P.C. represents Californians from all walks of life who are fighting criminal charges of battery and related crimes. You don't need to have actually hurt someone, or even intended to hurt them, to be charged with battery; any unwanted touching is enough for most prosecutors. That's why our Rancho Santa Fe battery criminal defense lawyers start each case by examining whether the incident was truly a case of "willful and unlawful" use of force or violence. We require prosecutors to prove their cases to the full extent of the law or allow our clients to walk free.
If you're charged with battery, assault or another violent crime, don't wait to call Howard Law, P.C. for help. To set up a free consultation, please contact us online or call 1-800-872-5925 today.
