Sean Penn pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor vandalism charge and was sentenced to three years probation and 300 hours of community service for an altercation with paparazzi.

The actor let his anger get the better of him in October 2009 and viciously kicked photographer Jordan Dawes in the knee after he tried to get pictures of Penn.

The two-time Oscar winner must also undergo 36 hours of anger management counseling.

This isn't Penn's first assault on photographers.

In 1987, he was sentenced to 60 days in jail after attacking a photographer on a film set.

He was also involved in an altercation with a member of the paparazzi at the funeral of his brother Christopher in 2006.

His lawyer, Richard Hirsch, said, "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.

"Accordingly he has decided to accept the terms and move on."

A Judge on Wednesday said if Penn behaves himself, attends his anger management class and completes his community service, his vandalism charge would be dropped to a less-serious charge of disturbing the peace.

The actor originally charged with misdemeanor battery and vandalism, which could have led to an 18-month jail term.

But the plea bargain saw the charges dropped to misdemeanor vandalism.

However Penn, who has been doing a lot of relief work for his Haiti organization, can't use the time spent on it so far as part of the 300 hours of service.

He needs to complete an additional 300 hours.

That shouldn't be a problem for Penn.

He has always been good with the charity stuff.