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Charges have been filed against two surfers who rose to the defense of their brah-in-arms, Matthew McConaughey, when they felt his groove was being unfairly threatened by encroaching paparazzi at Malibu's Paradise Cove last June. From the Reuters report:

Skylar Martin Peak, 24, and Philip John Hildebrand, 30, both of Malibu, were each charged with one misdemeanor count of battery for attacking Richid Altmbareckouhammou, who was working for a French news agency, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office said.

Officials claim the two men threw Altmbareckouhammou into the water from where he was taking pictures on the beach. Each faces up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.

That bullied photographer Richid Altmbareckouhammou (ri-CHEED AHL-tem-ba- REK-oo-HAM-moo) went through with a legal action sends a strong message to other surfers who think such matters can be solved with a sandy flip-flop shoved down a throat: So long as the public thirsts for images of McConaughey teaching his newborn son Levi the delicate art of the schnot shot while paddling out to shore, there will be paparazzo dug into the sand to capture such tender moments of celebrity/nature communion.