The artist who created the “HOPE” poster that came to symbolize Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign was ordered to do 300 hours of community service Friday for a criminal contempt conviction but was spared jail time. Shepard Fairey, 42, of Los Angeles nodded his head several times and said “OK” as U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas told him he must commit no crimes during two years of probation and must pay a $25,000 fine to the U.S. government. During remarks before the sentence was announced, Fairey called his decision to fabricate evidence in a civil lawsuit he brought against The Associated Press in 2009 the “worst thing I’ve done in my life.” He also apologized. “I am deeply ashamed and remorseful that I didn’t live up to my own standards of honesty and integrity,” he said. More at his site : www.obeygiant.com/