LOS ANGELES ? Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn was slapped with criminal charges on Friday after allegedly attacking a photographer in Los Angeles last year, city prosecutors said.

Penn, 49, was charged with misdemeanor battery and vandalism following the incident involving the photographer in the upmarket district of Brentwood on October 2 last year, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office confirmed.

Penn, who is alleged to have kicked his victim in the leg, is to be arraigned on March 22.

If convicted of the misdemeanor counts, Penn faces a maximum of 18 months in jail, according to a spokesman for the attorney's office.

Penn won best actor Oscars for his performances in "Mystic River" and "Milk." He was also nominated for his work in "Dead Man Walking," "I Am Sam" and "Sweet and Lowdown."

Penn has a history of violent confrontations with photographers. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail in 1987, serving roughly half that time behind bars, after attacking a photographer on a film set.