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Sean Penn charged in paparazzo run-in

By Alan Duke, CNN
Sean Penn is known for his talent -- he nabbed the best actor Oscar last year  -- as well as his violent outbursts.
Sean Penn is known for his talent -- he nabbed the best actor Oscar last year -- as well as his violent outbursts.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Sean Penn charged with battery and vandalism Friday, stemming from a run-in last fall
  • The maximum possible punishment for each count is 18 months in jail
  • Penn reportedly kicked a photographer who was approaching his truck
  • Penn's violent outbursts against photographers are legendary and have landed him in jail
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Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Sean Penn's confrontation with a paparazzo last fall earned the Oscar-winning actor a date with a judge, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney said Friday.

Battery and vandalism charges stemming from "an altercation back in October 2009 with a photographer" were filed Friday morning against Penn, spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

The maximum possible punishment for each count, both misdemeanors, is 18 months in jail, Mateljan said.

The charge documents were mailed to Penn on Friday morning, he said.

A call to Penn's publicist was not immediately returned.

Penn, 49, is scheduled to be arraigned on March 22 at the airport branch of the Los Angeles County Court.

The incident allegedly happened at the Brentwood Country Mart, a shopping and dining complex in western Los Angeles.

Video posted on the celebrity gossip site TMZ showed Penn kicking toward a still photographer who was standing by his pickup truck as he approached.

"Get out, get out," Penn said as he kicked. It was not clear if any of the kicks landed on the photographer, who retreated.

Penn, who has five Oscar nominations, won the best actor Academy Award twice, in 2003 for "Mystic River" and in 2008 for "Milk."

His violent outbursts against photographers are legendary and have landed him in jail.

He served a month behind bars in 1987 for an assault against a paparazzo.