Tyrannical Government Seeks to Imprison Famed Dissenter

Aww, poor Spicoli.

Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn was charged Friday with battery and vandalism for allegedly attacking a photographer and breaking his camera outside Brentwood Country Mart in October, officials said.

Penn faces up to 18 months in jail if convicted of the misdemeanor charges of battery and vandalism stemming from the Oct. 2 run-in with a photographer.

The charges were filed by the L.A. city attorney's office. The incident was captured on video and broadcast on TMZ, the celebrity website.

"We are alleging he kicked a photographer and and we are also accusing him of breaking the photographer's camera," said Frank Mateljan, a city attorney spokesman.

Penn will be arraigned March 22 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Penn pal Hugo Chavez was unavailable for comment.