Sean Penn charged with battery, vandalism

LOS ANGELES - Oscar winning actor Sean Penn has been charged with battery and vandalism for indulging in a scuffle with a paparazzo four months ago.

Penn is being charged on two counts, one for battery, and one for vandalism, said Frank Mateljan, spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office.

If convicted, Penn faces 18 months in jail, Mateljan told KTLA.

The scuffle broke out in Brentwood when a group of celebrity photographers were trying to take pictures of the 49-year-old actor-director who won two best actor Oscars for his roles in “Mystic River” and “Milk”.

Penn kicked a paparazzo and broke his camera, witnesses said.

The incident was captured by another camera person and the court decided to file charges “after reviewing the videotapes”, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The photographer Jordan Dawes filed a police report against the actor Oct 2 last year.

In 1987, Penn, ex-husband of pop star Madonna, served 33 days in jail for assaulting a photographer on a film set. The actor was also charged with felony and domestic assault during his marriage to Madonna.