Penn to attend anger-management classes

LOS ANGELES, May 13 (UPI) -- Sean Penn's lawyer entered in a Los Angeles court on the film star's behalf a plea of no contest to misdemeanor vandalism, officials said.

"Prolonging this matter in the court system would not have been in Mr. Penn's best interest and would've distracted from his charitable commitments, specifically his work with the J/P Haitian Relief Organization," Penn's attorney Richard Hirsch told People.com. "Accordingly he has decided to accept the plea terms and move on."

The charge was in connection with an altercation the two-time Oscar-winner allegedly had with a photographer last year.

People.com said Penn was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and instructed to attend 36 hours of anger-management sessions as part of the plea deal.

In exchange, one count of battery reportedly was dropped.