Man Gets 100 Days of Community Service for Real Estate Sign Thefts : Crime: The anti-development activist became frustrated trying to get code officers to remove illegal placards. The prosecutor had urged jail time.

Rejecting the pleas of prosecutors who argued that an Acton community activist should serve at least one day in jail for illegally removing hundreds of real estate signs, a judge sentenced the activist to 100 days of community service Friday.

Lancaster Superior Court Judge Charles Peven also placed Charles Brink, 51, on three years probation, fined him $2,700 and ordered him to pay restitution for the signs he removed.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Pamela C. Rhodes-Rogers had said that unless Brink spent at least one day in jail for destroying thousands of dollars worth of real estate signs, it would send a dangerous message to the community.

“This is a manipulative man who deserves to spend a weekend in jail--the same as a person who steals a tube of lipstick from K mart,” Rhodes-Rogers said.

Brink, who has long crusaded against development, had argued that the signs were a blight on the semirural community. Brink had said he tore down the signs because his efforts to have Los Angeles County code enforcement officials remove illegal signs were fruitless.

“I know the system is cumbersome at times, but we can’t have vigilantes taking the law in their own hands,” Peven told Brink.

Peven said he could not condone Brink’s actions but indicated some sympathy with his frustration over development. Before issuing his sentence, Peven asked rhetorically, “Do you have a man here who said he is above the law or the self-appointed czar who decides what is right for Acton?”

“I’ve been mulling this over for weeks now: ‘What am I going to do with Mr. Brink? Is he a community activist or some kind of nut?’ ”

Peven said to Brink: “You labeled yourself, and I believe you are, a community activist. You’re trying to see that growth in the area is done properly. Thank God we have community activists. I see no useful purpose in putting you in jail.”

Brink and Joel Levy, 54, entered pleas of no contest to one misdemeanor charge each of vandalism in October. The charge involved one sign, but authorities said the two removed hundreds. Levy and Brink were both members of the unincorporated community’s Town Council when they removed the signs.

Last month, Levy was fined $1,350, ordered to do 50 days of community service and placed on three years probation. He was also told to pay restitution up to $800.

Brink said to Peven before he was sentenced: “I can assure you I will never ever remove another sign. I feel that what I did was wrong, but I feel no remorse for what I did.”