  Russell Brand (Reuters file photo)
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British comedian Russell Brand has dodged a six-month jail term and agreed to perform 20 hours of community service after striking a deal with prosecutors over allegations of criminal damage.
The Forgetting Sarah Marshall star was charged with the misdemeanour on Wednesday amid claims he snatched a paparazzo's iPhone and hurled it through the window of an abandoned building in New Orleans, Louisiana in March.
Brand's lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during an arraignment hearing on Thursday morning, but the representative has since managed to reach a plea agreement with authorities which will keep the funnyman out of jail.
As per the deal, Brand must pay $500 in court fees and complete his community service sentence by August 31. The case will then be dismissed.
And the actor's lawyer reveals Brand will be using his time wisely by working with people battling addiction after overcoming his own personal troubles earlier on in his career.
