Smashed iPhone Gets Russell Brand 20 Community Service Hours

Ever think buying an iPhone was a pricey proposition? Behold, the price of destroying one.

Russell Brand averted a fairly lengthy jail stretch this morning, making a plea deal with New Orleans prosecutors over a March incident involving the British comic and star of FX's "Brand X" and "Get Him To The Greek" pitching a photographer's phone through a window, TMZ reported Thursday.

Brand could've faced a six-month jail stretch. Instead, his attorney pleaded guilty on his behalf today to misdemeanor criminal damage, with the condition that Brand pay $500 in court costs and complete 20 hours community service by Aug. 21.

His attorney claims that he'll perform the service tending to people suffering under substance abuse. Brand himself has struggled publicly with heroin and alcohol dependencies, as well as sex addiction, reportedly sobering up in 2002.

Despite the March 15 "simple criminal damage to property" warrant issued for Brand, he not only turned himself in to police, but also offered to reimburse the broken window's cost. It wasn't his first brush with the law stemming from the paparazzi: He was arrested on Sept. 16, 2010, after allegedly attacking a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport when the pap allegedly blocked his and Perry's way onto their flight. He posted $20,000 bond, and was released from custody.