Shepard Fairey Pleads 'Guilty' to Criminal Charge Tied to 'Hope' Poster

Echo Park-based artist Shepard Fairey has pleaded guilty to a criminal charge tied to his lawsuit with the Associated Press.

The artist pleaded guilty in a Manhattan Federal District court Friday to one count of criminal contempt for destroying documents, manufacturing evidence and other misconduct in the civil suit over his "Obama" "Hope" poster.

“I was ashamed that I had done these things, and I knew I should have corrected my actions,” he said on Friday according to The New York Times.

AP had accused Fairey of improperly using an AP photo of Obama to create the poster.

The artist sued AP in 2009 in civil court.

Fairey claimed he was covered by fair-use laws.

At that time he admitted that he destroyed documents and submitted false images in the legal battle.

AP and Fairey settled that case out of court.

Sentencing in Fairey's criminal case has been set for July 16.

The artist faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a maximum term of supervised release of one year.

The New York Times says a prosecutor in the case says they are likely to seek jail time.

Fairey could also be fined up to $5,000.

Fairey recently appeared at a panel in downtown Los Angeles on proposed revisions to the city's mural ordinance and appeared in good spirits. 

What remains to be seen is whether the criminal case and the threat of jail time will make him a hero or an outlaw among street artists, who often face the threat of jail time or fines for their work.

Click here to see press release issued Friday by the U.S. Attorney's office in New York City handling Fairey's case.