Matthew McConaughey's Protectors Charged With Battery

The two surfers who threw paparazzi into the ocean have been charged with misdemeanor battery.  One of the photographers told the police he was attacked and his camera was thrown in the ocean by the surfers after they demanded he stop taking pictures of Matthew McConaughey surfing.  It is unknown if Matthew even knows these guys.

Matthew was not at all involved in the incident, except that he was the photographers' intended target.  What I don't understand is why one of the two men, Skylar Peak, has a publicist.  "We believe that a complete investigation, including looking at the tapes, will show that Skylar defended himself," said Peak's publicist, Howard Bragman.  The other guy, Philip Hildebrand,  hasn't hired a publicist and doesn't have a working phone number and therefore hasn't issued a comment. 

This incident, as well as the many cases of paparazzi storming the cars of stars has prompted Malibu and other Los Angeles area officials to seek ways to curb the paparazzi. 

Although there is video of the incident on-line, prosecutors were not sure they would be able to prosecute because they have been unable to find cooperative witnesses.  But, earlier in the week a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said prosecutors felt they had enough evidence to pursue the case.

I'm all for curbing the paparazzi but I don't think beating the crap out of them and destroying property is the answer.

source