Is Penn mightier than law?

Sean Penn was charged Friday with battery and vandalism stemming from a fight with a photographer last fall.

The actor-director will be arraigned March 22 on the two misdemeanor charges. If convicted, he could face up to 18 months in jail.

Authorities said Penn kicked a photographer and damaged his camera during an October dispute in Brentwood, Calif.

It was captured on a video posted by celebrity Web site TMZ.com in which Penn is seen kicking at a photographer and telling him to “get out.”

He’s the latest actor charged in Los Angeles over an altercation with the paparazzi. Charges against rapper Kanye West and actor Gerard Butler were recently dismissed after both completed community service.

During the 1980s, Penn had several run-ins with photographers and a movie extra that resulted in a short jail stint.

When you care enough …

A delusional fan who unleashed his crude fantasies about Ashanti in text messages to her mother was sentenced Thursday to two years in jail.

Devar Hurd said he didn’t mean to annoy or alarm the Grammy-winning R&B singer and her family when he sent the messages, which included photos of his genitals.

“My intent was not to harm,” he told the judge. “I always wish the best for her.”

The birthday bunch

Actor Sidney Poitier is 83. Singer Nancy Wilson is 73. Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie is 69. Actress Sandy Duncan is 64. Guitarist J. Geils is 64. Actress Brenda Blethyn is 64. Actor Peter Strauss is 63. Actor Joel Hodgson (“Mystery Science Theater 3000”) is 50. Actor French Stewart is 46. Model Cindy Crawford is 44. Actor Andrew Shue is 43. Actress Lili Taylor is 43. Singer Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys) is 35. Actress Lauren Ambrose is 32. Actor Jay Hernandez is 32. Singer Rihanna is 22.