'Dancing With the Stars' season 23 news, spoilers: Ryan Lochte protesters charged with misdemeanor, face jail time

The two protesters who stormed the stage following Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte's first performance in the premiere episode of "Dancing With the Stars" season 23 have been charged and are facing jail time.

People reports that 59-year-old Sam Sotoodeh and 25-year-old Barzeen Soroudi were each charged with two counts of misdemeanor by the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office on Monday, Sept. 26. The first misdemeanor charge is reportedly for going beyond the designated spectator area and going onstage at the "Dancing With the Stars" set. The second misdemeanor charge is for disrupting the performance.

Sotoodeh and Soroudi could each be handed down a $1,000 fine and a sentence of up to six months in prison. The protesters' arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Following their Sept. 12 protest, the two men told the press that their actions were intended to let the viewers know that Lochte, who caused an international controversy in August, was a poor representative of the American people.

"It was just a protest, a non-violent protest," Soroudi said, adding, "We didn't agree obviously with the Walt Disney Company choosing Lochte to represent Americans. Yes, he did receive gold medals but what he did in Rio did not represent Americans well."

Lochte was recently suspended by the United States Olympic Committee and USA Swimming after he disgraced himself in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August. During the Rio Olympics, the Olympic swimmer made false claims about being mugged in the city. He and his teammates later confessed that they had fabricated the whole thing to cover up the fact that they had thrashed a gas station after a night of drinking.

In a previous episode, Lochte reflected on his actions in Rio and on his "Dancing With the Stars" journey.

"I was irresponsible and immature," he admitted. "I have so many wonderful fans. I feel like I let them all down. I hit rock bottom, but I'm a fighter and I won't give up so I'm going to train even harder 'cause this is my second chance. I want to show people a new side of me," he also shared. 

"Dancing With the Stars" season 23 airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.