NEW YORK (AP).- The creator of the Barack Obama “HOPE” poster pleaded guilty Friday to criminal contempt, saying he made a “terrible decision” in 2009 to destroy some documents and fabricate others in a civil lawsuit pertaining to The Associated Press photograph he relied upon to make the poster. Shepard Fairey entered the plea in federal court to the misdemeanor charge, which carries a maximum potential penalty of up to six months in prison. Sentencing was set for July 16. “Violating the court’s trust was the worst thing I have ever done in my life,” said Fairey, 42, of Los Angeles. “I was ashamed as I did all these things, and I remain ashamed.” The criminal case originated after the artist acknowledged he had fabricated information in a lawsuit he brought against the